Communication method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and provides a communication method, capable of improving the accuracy of services (such as sensing services or positioning services) associated with signal transmission delay. The method comprises: a first device determines first information, and sends the first information to a second device, wherein the first information is used for the second device to determine a first error value, the first error value is a distance error caused by different deviations between actual phases of a signal, which is reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device, at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal, and the first information is any one of a first reference signal, phase shift characteristics of the antenna panel, or the first error value.

Description

Communication method

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202410718252.1 filed on June 4, 2024, and entitled "Communication method", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to a communication method. BACKGROUND

[0003] In a communication system, the network device and the terminal device can be blocked by other objects, so that the network device and the terminal device cannot transmit signals through the line-of-sight path, the signal transmission quality is poor, and the communication performance is affected. Currently, the signal can be transmitted through a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) device to improve the signal transmission quality between the network device and the terminal device.

[0004] A method for transmitting signals through an RIS device can include that the network device can send control signaling to the RIS device, the control signaling can include the beam of the RIS device and the effective time slot of the beam. After receiving the signal, the RIS device can switch the corresponding beam based on the control signaling at the corresponding time slot, and then reflect the received signal to the desired direction to send to the network device or the terminal device, so as to enhance the signal quality in the weak coverage area.

[0005] Generally, the control signaling realizes the indication of the beam by indicating the phase of the multiple reflecting units of the RIS panel; however, due to the limitation of the process, there is a deviation between the actual phase of the reflecting unit at different frequency points and the phase indicated by the control signaling, which causes the transmission delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel to increase or decrease, and further causes the accuracy of the service related to the transmission delay of the signal (such as perception service or positioning service) to decrease. SUMMARY

[0006] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can improve the accuracy of the service related to the transmission delay of the signal (such as perception service or positioning service).

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a first apparatus. The first apparatus can refer to the first apparatus itself (e.g., a mobile terminal (MT) for controlling an antenna panel), a component (e.g., a communication module, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the first apparatus, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first apparatus. The method comprises determining first information and sending the first information to a second apparatus, wherein the first information is used to determine a first error value, the first error value is a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first apparatus and a target phase of the signal at different frequency points, and the first information is any one of a first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or the first error value.

[0008] Based on the scheme, due to the difference between the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) (i.e., the antenna panel) at different frequency points and the target phase of the RIS panel (such as the target phase indicated by the control signaling), the phase shift of the RIS panel is not constant, which causes the transmission delay of the signal to increase or decrease, and the result of the service related to the transmission delay of the signal (such as positioning service or sensing service) has an error (i.e., the first error value). Therefore, the mobile terminal MT (i.e., the first apparatus) controlling the RIS panel can send the first information to the second apparatus, so that the second apparatus can determine the first error value based on the first information. Thus, the result of the related service (positioning service or sensing service) can be corrected based on the first error value to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0009] In a possible design, the target phase of the signal is a phase indicated by the second apparatus to the first apparatus before the signal is transmitted between the second apparatus and the third apparatus, and the antenna panel is expected to be adjusted by the first apparatus. The phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel is the target phase.

[0010] In a possible design, the actual phase of the signal is the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel after the first apparatus adjusts the antenna panel according to the target phase. In a possible design, the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel can also be referred to as the phase of the antenna panel.

[0011] In a possible design, the first error value is a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal, including: the first error value is a product of a transmission delay error corresponding to the difference between the actual phase of the signal at the different frequency points and the target phase of the signal and a light speed.

[0012] The transmission delay error refers to a difference between a transmission delay of the signal required according to a transmission distance (i.e., a quotient of the transmission distance and the light speed) and an actual transmission delay of the signal transmitted on a transmission path of the signal under a condition that the transmission path and the transmission distance are fixed, where the actual transmission delay of the signal is a difference between a receiving time and a sending time of the signal.

[0013] In a possible design, when the first information is the first reference signal, the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel in a transmission process; and the first information is used by the second device to determine the first error value, including: the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance are used to determine the first error value, where the first measurement value is a product of a transmission delay of the first reference signal and the light speed, the first distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and the second distance is a distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

[0014] In a possible design, the first error value = the first measurement value – the first distance – the second distance.

[0015] Based on the above two possible designs, it can be understood that, when the first information is the first reference signal, the second device can determine the first measurement value (i.e., the first measurement value is a product of a transmission delay of the first reference signal and the light speed) through the transmission delay of the first reference signal after receiving the first reference signal; further, since the distance (the first distance) between the antenna panel and the first device can be negligible or can be measured (i.e., the second device can obtain the first distance), the second device can determine the first error value (e.g., the first error value = the first measurement value – the first distance – the second distance) according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance, in a case that the second device calculates the second distance (i.e., the distance between the second device and the antenna panel) based on a position of the second device and a position of the antenna panel; and therefore, the second device can correct a result of a service (a positioning service or a sensing service, etc.) related to the transmission delay of the signal through the first error value, to improve accuracy of the related service.

[0016] In a possible design, the second distance is determined by the second device according to a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal, where: the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value is determined according to the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; and the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value is determined according to the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value.

[0017] In a possible design, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value; therefore, the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

[0018] Based on the above two possible designs, when the first information is the first reference signal, the second device can determine the first measurement value (i.e., the first measurement value is a product of the transmission time delay of the first reference signal and the speed of light) according to the transmission time delay of the first reference signal after receiving the first reference signal. Further, since the distance (the first distance) between the antenna panel and the first device can be negligible or can be measured (i.e., the second device can obtain the first distance), the second device can further determine the second distance according to the third measurement value and the second measurement value (i.e., the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance), and then determine the first error value according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance (i.e., the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance), so as to correct a result of a service (such as a positioning service or a sensing service) related to the transmission time delay of the signal, and improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0019] In addition, the second device does not need to know the position of the antenna panel, but only needs to know the distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and then determine the second distance according to the parameters in the measurement values corresponding to the signals of the multiple transmission paths, so as to determine the first error value; therefore, the method has a wider range of use.

[0020] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the second device sends a third reference signal to the third device; and the second device receives a third measurement value or a transmission time delay of the third reference signal from the third device. When the second device receives the transmission time delay of the third reference signal from the third device, the communication method further includes: the second device determines the third measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the third reference signal, and the third measurement value is a product of the transmission time delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0021] Based on the possible design, the second device can determine a third measurement value based on the third reference signal (i.e., the third measurement value is a product of a transmission delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light), determine the second distance based on the third measurement value, and then determine the first error value, thereby providing a basic guarantee.

[0022] Generally, the energy strength of a downlink signal is greater than that of an uplink signal, so that in the case where the second device is a network device and the third device is a terminal device, the third information is downlink information, and thus the accuracy of the measurement value (i.e., the third measurement value) corresponding to the signal can be improved compared to the uplink information, and the accuracy of the first error value is further improved.

[0023] In a possible design, the phase of the third reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, and the third phase is determined based on a first phase and a second phase, where the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0024] Based on the possible design, the second device can determine and send the first phase to the first device based on the phases of the first reference signal and the second reference signal, so that when the first device adjusts the antenna panel to the first phase, the transmission path of the third reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is as consistent as possible with a path between the second device and the antenna panel in the transmission path of the first reference signal (the transmission distance of the path is the second distance) and a path between the third device and the antenna panel in the transmission path of the second reference signal (the transmission distance of the path is the third distance), thereby ensuring the accuracy of the first error value.

[0025] In a possible design, the second distance is determined by the second device based on a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal; the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the second measurement value is determined based on the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value; the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and the fourth measurement value is determined based on the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value; and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0026] In a possible design, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, and the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value; therefore, the second distance = (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

[0027] Based on the above two possible designs, when the first information is the first reference signal, after receiving the first reference signal, the second device can determine the first measurement value (i.e., the first measurement value is the product of the transmission time delay of the first reference signal and the speed of light) through the transmission time delay of the first reference signal. Further, since the distance (the first distance) between the antenna panel and the first device can be negligible or can be measured (i.e., the second device can know the first distance), in addition, the second device can determine the second distance according to the fourth measurement value and the second measurement value (i.e., the second distance = (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance), and further make the second device determine the first error value according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance (i.e., the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance), so that the result of the service (positioning service or sensing service, etc.) related to the transmission time delay of the signal can be corrected through the first error value to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0028] In addition, the second device does not need to know the position of the antenna panel, but only needs to know the distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and further determine the second distance through the parameters in the measurement values corresponding to the signals of the multiple transmission paths, so as to determine the first error value. Therefore, the use range of the method is wider.

[0029] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the second device receives a fourth reference signal from a third device; and the second device determines a fourth measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement value being the product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

[0030] Based on the possible design, the second device can determine the fourth measurement value (i.e., the fourth measurement value is the product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light) based on the fourth reference signal, which provides a possible implementation manner for the second device to determine the second distance according to the fourth measurement value and further determine the first error value. In addition, the second device and the third device only need to interact once to determine the first error value, thereby reducing the resource consumption of the air interface.

[0031] In a possible design, the phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, where: the first phase is the phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel; and the second phase is the phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0032] Based on the possible design, the second device can determine and send the first phase to the first device based on the phases of the first reference signal and the second reference signal, so that when the first device adjusts the antenna panel to the first phase, in the process of reflection and / or transmission of the fourth reference signal via the antenna panel, the transmission path thereof is as coincident as possible with the path between the second device and the antenna panel in the transmission path of the first reference signal (the transmission distance corresponding to the path is the second distance) and the path between the third device and the antenna panel in the transmission path of the second reference signal (the transmission distance corresponding to the path is the third distance), thereby ensuring the accuracy of the first error value.

[0033] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the second device receiving a second phase from the third device; the second device determining a third phase according to the second phase and the first phase; and the second device sending the third reference signal to the third device, or, before the second device receiving the fourth reference signal from the third device, the communication method further includes: the second device sending the third phase to the first device.

[0034] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the first device sending a second reference signal to the third device, the second reference signal being reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel in the transmission process; the second device receiving a second measurement value or a transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; and when the second device receives the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device, the communication method further includes: the second device determining the second measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, wherein the second measurement value is determined according to the first distance, the third distance and the first error value, and the third distance is the distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0035] In a possible design, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0036] Based on the above two possible designs, the second device can determine the second measurement value (i.e., the product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light) based on the second reference signal, determine the second distance according to the second measurement value, and further determine the first error value, thereby providing a basic guarantee. In addition, when the second device directly receives the second measurement value from the third device, the second distance can be directly determined according to the second measurement value, and the first error value can be further determined, thereby improving the efficiency of the second device in determining the first error value and saving the computational complexity of the second device.

[0037] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the first device sending the first distance to the second device.

[0038] Based on the possible design, the first device can send the first distance (i.e., the distance between the antenna panel and the first device) to the second device, so that the second device can determine the first error value according to the first distance, and further, can correct the result of the service (e.g., positioning service or sensing service) related to the transmission delay of the signal by using the first error value, to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0039] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: correcting, by the second device, the positioning result of the third device according to the first error value.

[0040] Based on the possible design, after the second device determines the first error value, the second device can correct the positioning result of the third device according to the first error value, to improve the accuracy of the positioning service.

[0041] In a possible design, when the first information indicates the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, the communication method further includes: determining, by the second device, a first delay according to the phase shift characteristic, the first delay being a delay error caused by the signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; determining the first error value according to the first delay, the first error value being a product of the first delay and the speed of light.

[0042] Based on the possible design, it can be understood that the phase shift of the frequency is equivalent to the multipath delay variation in the delay domain (i.e., the delay error between the actual transmission delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel using the actual phase, and the transmission delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel using the target phase), that is, the second device can obtain the delay error (i.e., the first delay) caused by the signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel; and thus, after the first device sends the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel to the second device, the second device can determine the delay error according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and further, determine the first error value (i.e., the first error value is a product of the delay error and the speed of light) according to the delay error, to provide a possible implementation for the second device to determine the first error value.

[0043] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a second device. The second device can refer to the second device itself (e.g., a network device), a component (e.g., a communication module, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the second device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second device. The method includes: receiving first information from a first device, the first information being any one of a first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of an antenna panel, or a first error value; and determining a first error value based on the first information, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal.

[0044] Based on the scheme, due to the difference between the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel at different frequency points and the target phase of the RIS panel (such as the target phase indicated by the control signaling), the phase shift of the RIS panel is not constant, which causes the transmission time delay of the signal to increase or decrease, and the result of the service related to the transmission time delay of the signal (such as positioning service or sensing service) has an error (i.e., the first error value). Therefore, the second device can receive the first information from the MT (i.e., the first device) that controls the RIS panel (i.e., the antenna panel), and then determine the first error value based on the first information, so that the result of the related service (positioning service or sensing service) can be corrected based on the first error value to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0045] In a possible design, the communication method further includes correcting a positioning result of a third device based on the first error value.

[0046] In a possible design, when the first information is the first reference signal, the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel during transmission; the first error value is determined based on the first information, including: determining a first distance, a second distance, and a first measurement value, the first distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, the second distance being a distance between the second device and the antenna panel, and the first measurement value being a product of a transmission time delay of the first reference signal and a speed of light; and the first error value is determined based on the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance, the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance.

[0047] In a possible design, determining the second distance includes: determining a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal, and determining the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, where the second reference signal is transmitted by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value is determined according to the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value, the third reference signal is transmitted by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the third measurement value is determined according to the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0048] In a possible design, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value, and therefore, the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

[0049] In a possible design, determining the third measurement value includes: transmitting, to the third device, the third reference signal, and receiving, from the third device, the third measurement value or a transmission time delay of the third reference signal, and when the transmission time delay of the third reference signal is received from the third device, determining the third measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the third reference signal, where the third measurement value is a product of the transmission time delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0050] In a possible design, a phase of the third reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, and the third phase is determined according to a first phase and a second phase, where the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0051] In a possible design, determining the second distance includes: determining a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a fourth measurement value corresponding to the fourth reference signal, and determining the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, where the second reference signal is transmitted by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value is determined according to the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value, the fourth reference signal is transmitted by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, the fourth measurement value is determined according to the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0052] In a possible design, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value, and therefore, the second distance = (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

[0053] In a possible design, the fourth measurement value is determined by: receiving the fourth reference signal from the third device; and determining the fourth measurement value according to a transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

[0054] In a possible design, the phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel is the third phase, and the third phase is determined by the first phase and the second phase, where: the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0055] In a possible design, the third reference signal is sent to the third device, or, before the fourth reference signal is received from the third device, the communication method further includes: determining the first phase and the second phase; determining the third phase according to the first phase and the second phase; and sending the third phase to the first device.

[0056] In a possible design, the second measurement value is determined by: receiving the second measurement value or a transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; and when the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device is received, determining the second measurement value, and the second measurement value is determined according to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0057] The technical effects brought by any design of the second aspect can refer to the technical effects brought by the corresponding design of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0058] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a third device. Unless specifically described, the third device in the present application can refer to the third device itself (for example, a terminal device), a component (for example, a communication module, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the third device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the third device. The method includes: receiving a second reference signal from a first device, the second reference signal being reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device during transmission; and sending a transmission time delay of the second reference signal or a second measurement value to a second device, the second measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light; and the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine a first error value, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between actual phases of signals reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel at different frequency points and target phases of the signals.

[0059] Based on the scheme, due to the different deviations between the actual phases of the signals reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel (i.e., the antenna panel) at different frequency points and the target phases of the RIS panel (such as the target phases indicated by the control signaling), the phase shift of the RIS panel is not constant, causing the transmission time delay of the signal to increase or decrease, resulting in an error (i.e., a first error value) in the result of the service related to the transmission time delay of the signal (such as positioning service or sensing service, etc.). Therefore, the product of the transmission time delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel during transmission and the speed of light (i.e., the measurement value corresponding to the signal) is actually the sum of the distance corresponding to the transmission path of the signal and the error, so as to assist in determining the error by means of the measurement value of the signal. Further, the result of the service related to the transmission time delay of the signal (such as positioning service or sensing service, etc.) can be corrected based on the error to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0060] In a possible design, the first error value is determined according to the second measurement value, a first distance, and a third distance, where the first distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0061] In a possible design, the first error value = the second measurement value - the first distance - the third distance.

[0062] In a possible design, the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine the first error value, including: the second measurement value and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value, where the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel.

[0063] In a possible design, the communication method further includes: the third device receives the third reference signal from the second device; and the third device sends, to the second device, a transmission time delay of the third reference signal or a third measurement value, where the third measurement value is a product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal and the speed of light.

[0064] In a possible design, the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine the first error value, including: the second measurement value and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value, where the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and the fourth measurement value is determined according to a second distance, a third distance, and the first error value, where the second distance is a distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

[0065] In a possible design, the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0066] In a possible design, the method further includes: the third device sending a third reference signal to the second device.

[0067] In a possible design, the method further includes: a phase of the third reference signal or a fourth reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined according to a first phase and a second phase, where: the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel; the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel; the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0068] In a possible design, the method further includes: sending the second phase to the second device.

[0069] The technical effects brought by any of the designs of the third aspect can refer to the technical effects brought by the corresponding designs of the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0070] According to a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided for implementing various methods. The communication apparatus can be the first device or the second device in the first aspect, or the second device in the second aspect, or the third device in the third aspect, or a device included in the first device or the second device or the third device, such as a chip or chip system. The communication apparatus includes modules, units, or means for implementing the corresponding functions of the methods, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by executing corresponding software with hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0071] In some possible designs, the communication apparatus can include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module can be configured to implement the processing functions in any of the aspects and any possible implementation manners of the aspects. The transceiver module can include a receiving module and a sending module, which are configured to implement the receiving functions and the sending functions in any of the aspects and any possible implementation manners of the aspects.

[0072] In some possible designs, the transceiver module can be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver chip, or a communication interface.

[0073] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store computer instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects. The communication apparatus can be the first apparatus or the second apparatus in the first aspect, or the second apparatus or the third apparatus in the second aspect, or an apparatus included in the first apparatus or the second apparatus or the third apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system. The communication apparatus comprises modules, units, or means corresponding to the method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0074] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is configured to communicate with modules outside the communication apparatus; and the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions, so as to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects. The communication apparatus can be the first apparatus or the second apparatus in the first aspect, or the second apparatus or the third apparatus in the second aspect, or an apparatus included in the first apparatus or the second apparatus or the third apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system. The communication apparatus comprises modules, units, or means corresponding to the method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0075] In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: at least one processor; and the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions, so as to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects. The communication apparatus can be the first apparatus or the second apparatus in the first aspect, or the second apparatus or the third apparatus in the second aspect, or an apparatus included in the first apparatus or the second apparatus or the third apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system. The communication apparatus comprises modules, units, or means corresponding to the method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0076] In some possible designs, the communication apparatus comprises a memory, which is configured to store necessary program instructions and data. The memory can be coupled with the processor, or can be independent of the processor.

[0077] In some possible designs, when the apparatus is a chip system, the apparatus can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0078] It can be understood that, when the communication apparatus provided in any one of the fourth aspect to the seventh aspect is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication apparatus can be understood as outputting information, and the receiving action / function of the communication apparatus can be understood as inputting information.

[0079] The communication apparatus can be a terminal device, or a communication module in the terminal device, or a chip responsible for a communication function in the terminal device, such as a Modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a system on chip (SoC) chip or a system in a package (SIP) chip containing a modem module.

[0080] For example, the terminal device can include an MT of the RIS.

[0081] The communication apparatus can be a network device, or a communication module in the network device, or a circuit or chip responsible for a communication function in the network device, or a functional module capable of invoking and executing a program in the network device.

[0082] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed on a communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any one of the aspects.

[0083] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any one of the aspects.

[0084] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, and the communication system includes the first apparatus (or an apparatus included in the first apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system) in the first aspect and the second apparatus (or an apparatus included in the second apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system) in the second aspect.

[0085] In some possible designs, the communication system can further include a third apparatus (or an apparatus included in the third apparatus, such as a chip or a chip system) in the third aspect.

[0086] The technical effects brought by any one of the fourth aspect to the tenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by different design manners in the first aspect or the second aspect or the third aspect, which will not be described herein again. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0087] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system based on a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) apparatus according to the present disclosure;

[0088] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of an RIS apparatus according to the present disclosure;

[0089] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a RIS device communication system according to the present application;

[0090] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a mobile terminal MT in a RIS device according to the present application;

[0091] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a working principle of a RIS device according to the present application;

[0092] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a control signaling according to the present application;

[0093] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a transmission path of a signal in a positioning scenario according to the present application;

[0094] FIG. 8 is a curve diagram of a phase shift variation of an antenna panel according to the present application;

[0095] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to the present application;

[0096] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device according to the present application;

[0097] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to the present application;

[0098] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to the present application;

[0099] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a flow of yet another communication method according to the present application;

[0100] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to the present application;

[0101] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a flow of yet another communication method according to the present application;

[0102] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to the present application;

[0103] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a flow of yet another communication method according to the present application;

[0104] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a structure of another communication device according to the present application;

[0105] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a structure of yet another communication device according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0106] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means that the objects before and after the " / " are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural.

[0107] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0108] In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second" and the like are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same function and role. Those skilled in the art can understand that "first", "second" and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second" and the like do not necessarily mean different.

[0109] In the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design presented as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. The embodiments described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application are not necessarily to be understood as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0110] It can be understood that the "embodiments" mentioned throughout the specification mean that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It can be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence of each process does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0111] It can be understood that in the present application, "when" and "if" both refer to making corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances, not limited to time, and do not require judgment actions when implementing, nor mean that there are other limitations.

[0112] It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented independently in some scenarios, solve corresponding technical problems, and achieve corresponding effects, without relying on other features, such as the scheme currently based on. In some scenarios, it can also be combined with other features according to needs. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of the present application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be described here.

[0113] It can be understood that in the present application, "for indicating" can include direct indication and indirect indication, and can also include explicit indication and implicit indication. When describing "the indication information is used to indicate A" or "the indication information of A", it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, and does not mean that A is carried in the indication information. The information indicated by certain information is called to be indicated information, and there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information in the specific implementation process, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or the index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be only indicated a part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, a protocol stipulates), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common part of each information can be identified and indicated uniformly, so as to reduce the indication overhead caused by separately indicating the same information. In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, for example, but not limited to, the above-mentioned indication methods and various combinations thereof. As can be seen from the above, for example, when multiple information of the same type needs to be indicated, the indication methods of different information can be different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to the specific needs, and the selected indication method is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiments of the present application should be understood as covering various methods that can enable the to-be-indicated party to know the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can be sent as a whole, or can be sent separately as multiple sub-information, and the sending period or sending occasion of the sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the present application. The sending period or sending occasion of the sub-information can be pre-defined, for example, pre-defined according to a protocol, or configured by the transmitting end device by sending configuration information to the receiving end device.

[0114] In the present application, the same or similar parts among various embodiments can be mutually referred to, unless otherwise specified. In the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent, and can be mutually referred to, unless otherwise specified and logically conflicted, and different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship. The implementation manners of the present application described below do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0115] In order to facilitate the understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, first, a brief introduction of the related technologies of the present application is given as follows.

[0116] 1. Integration of communication and sensing

[0117] With the large-scale popularization of Internet applications and wireless network devices, people's demand for wireless communication is further increasing, and communication technology is also continuously evolving. From the 4th generation (4th generation, 4G) mobile communication to the 5th generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication to 5G-advanced (5G-advanced, 5G-A), and future communication networks, the communication spectrum also evolves from low frequency bands to high frequency bands, such as millimeter waves, terahertz, optical communication, etc. In addition to having stronger communication capabilities, future communication systems also have sensing capabilities. Such a communication system can be referred to as a communication and sensing integrated system. Communication and sensing integration refers to the fusion of communication and sensing functions, so that the communication system has both communication and sensing functions. Specifically, for the sensing function, the sensing device (i.e., the device with sensing function) can use the transmission, reflection, and scattering of wireless signals to sense and characterize the environment, thereby performing high-precision positioning and motion route pursuit, posture and activity recognition, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), human sensory enhancement, etc.

[0118] There are certain differences between the technical principles of sensing and communication. In the communication process, the sender can modulate information on the radio wave and send it to the receiver. Correspondingly, the receiver can demodulate the signal carried on the radio wave to obtain the information. In the sensing process, the sender can send radio waves to a specific direction (such as the direction of the target area and / or the target object). After the radio wave irradiates the surface of the target object, a reflected wave is formed. Correspondingly, the receiver can receive the reflected wave and process it to obtain information such as the position, speed, and type of the target.

[0119] In the sensing process, whether the sending end and the receiving end are the same device can be distinguished based on different sensing modes. Specifically, the sensing modes can include single-station sensing and double-station sensing. Among them, single-station sensing refers to that only one device participates in sensing, that is, the sending end and the receiving end are the same device. That is, in the sensing process, the device needs to receive the reflected wave (i.e., the radio wave reflected from the surface of the target object) of the radio wave sent by the device. Therefore, the single-station sensing mode can also be called self-transmission and self-reception mode.

[0120] Double-station sensing refers to that two devices participate in sensing, that is, the sending end and the receiving end are different devices. That is, in the sensing process, the sending end only needs to send the radio wave; the receiving end only needs to receive the reflected wave (i.e., the radio wave reflected from the surface of the target object) of the radio wave and process it. Therefore, the double-station sensing mode can also be called self-transmission and other-reception mode.

[0121] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, single-station sensing mode is adopted to realize sensing, which is uniformly described here and will not be repeated.

[0122] 2, Reference signal:

[0123] The uplink reference signal includes but is not limited to: sounding reference signal (SRS), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) de-modulation reference signal (PUCCH-DMRS), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) de-modulation reference signal (PUSCH-DMRS), phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS, such as: positioning SRS or SRS for positioning).

[0124] The downlink communication includes transmission of downlink physical channels and downlink signals; wherein the downlink physical channels include physical broadcast channel (PBCH), downlink control channel, downlink data channel, etc.

[0125] Downlink reference signals include, but are not limited to, primary synchronization signal (PSS) / secondary synchronization signal (SSS), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) de-modulation reference signal (PDCCH-DMRS), physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) de-modulation reference signal (PDSCH-DMRS), PTRS, channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), cell reference signal (CRS), tracking reference signal (TRS), positioning reference signal (PRS).

[0126] 3. Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS):

[0127] The RIS is a digital reconfigurable artificial electromagnetic surface composed of a large number of subwavelength digital reconfigurable basic units (also known as RIS units or array elements or reflecting units) arranged in a certain macroscopic arrangement (periodic arrangement or non-periodic arrangement). The RIS units can be arranged in the RIS panel. Since the size and arrangement of the basic units included in the RIS panel can be designed arbitrarily, the RIS can break through the limitation that the traditional material is difficult to accurately control at the atomic or molecular level, and construct a new type of material with super-normal medium parameters that cannot be realized by traditional materials and traditional technology. Compared with the surface of the traditional material, the RIS has the ability to shape the electromagnetic wave according to the generalized Snell's law. The RIS can actively and intelligently control the spatial electromagnetic wave to form an electromagnetic environment with controllable amplitude, phase, polarization and frequency. Since the RIS adopts the design concept of a small number of active devices or even all passive devices, and can be deployed by using metamaterials and splicing, it has the advantages of low cost, low power consumption, low complexity and easy deployment, and has the potential for deployment of future networks. According to the specific control ability of the RIS to the electromagnetic wave, the reconfigurable metasurface can be divided into: amplitude reconfigurable, phase reconfigurable, polarization reconfigurable, etc.

[0128] Optionally, in some embodiments, the RIS can also be described as an intelligent meta-surface, an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), a reconfigurable reflecting surface (RRS), a smart surface, a transmissive meta-surface, a large intelligent meta-surface (LIM), a software-controlled meta-surface, a smart reflect-array, a software-defined surface (SDS), and a passive intelligent surface (PIS), a passive massive multiple-input multiple-output (passive massive MIMO), a distributed passive massive MIMO, etc.

[0129] By controlling the shaping parameters (such as reflection angle or transmission angle, etc.) of the RIS to the electromagnetic wave, flexible control of the electromagnetic wave can be achieved. The control mode of the RIS includes voltage control. For example, the basic unit in the RIS is connected to a control device such as a diode (such as a variable capacitance diode, etc.). By applying different bias voltages to the diode, the working parameters of the basic unit connected to the diode are different, thereby changing the working state of the basic unit, such as the reflection and / or transmission phase of the RIS to the electromagnetic wave changes by 180°.

[0130] From the above characteristics of the RIS, in order to achieve flexible regulation and control of the electromagnetic wave, the working state distribution of the basic unit in the RIS can be changed, thereby the transmission characteristics of the electromagnetic wave (including transmission direction, signal strength, signal amplitude, signal carrier frequency, signal phase, etc.) can be controlled.

[0131] In addition, due to its low cost, easy integration, low power consumption and flexible regulation, RIS has broad application prospects in the fields of communication, radar, stealth, etc. In the field of communication, RIS is often used in wireless networks. By utilizing the reflection and / or transmission characteristics of RIS, the radio frequency signals (radio frequency signals are transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves) can be reflected and / or transmitted, which can improve the coverage and capacity of wireless networks; by utilizing the radiation characteristics of RIS, the transmitted data is directly modulated, and the radio frequency front-end modules such as mixing and amplification in the traditional communication link are omitted, thereby reducing power consumption and cost.

[0132] Based on this, in the field of communication, the characteristics of RIS can be utilized to control the working parameters of each basic unit, so that the RIS can reflect and / or transmit multiple harmonic beams that meet the conditions. In this way, even a communication device with only a single radio frequency link (i.e., one antenna) can utilize RIS to achieve multi-beam control, and therefore RIS has a very broad application prospect in the field of beamforming technology.

[0133] In this application, RIS can refer to a device or apparatus including RIS, or a device or apparatus supporting RIS, and the RIS apparatus can also be referred to as IRS, RRS, smart surface, transmissive metasurfaces, LIM, software-controlled metasurfaces, smart reflectarray, SDS, and PIS, passive massive MIMO, distributed passive massive MIMO, etc. Alternatively, the RIS apparatus can also be an apparatus supporting at least one of RIS, IRS, RRS, smart surface, transmissive metasurfaces, LIM, software-controlled metasurfaces, smart reflectarray, SDS, and PIS, passive massive MIMO, distributed passive massive MIMO. RIS can also be referred to as RIS device or RIS apparatus or RIS relay or RIS, etc. Hereinafter, it is collectively referred to as RIS apparatus.

[0134] Exemplarily, the RIS device can be applied in a communication scenario or a sensing scenario. Specifically, in a communication scenario, as shown in (a) of FIG. 1, a line-of-slight (LOS) between a base station (BS) and a user equipment (UE) is blocked (e.g., blocked by an obstacle), and if there is no RIS device, the BS and the UE can only rely on a non-line-of-slight (NLOS) to implement communication, and at this time, the strength of the signal is weak. After deploying the RIS device, the BS can reasonably adjust the phase of the RIS, so that the RIS device reflects and / or transmits the signal of the UE to the desired direction, thereby realizing enhancement of the weak coverage area and improving the communication performance of the device in the weak coverage area.

[0135] In a sensing scenario, as shown in (b) of FIG. 1, in the process of sensing the surrounding environment, if there is no RIS device, the sensing signal sent by the BS cannot reach the blocked area (e.g., the target in (b) of FIG. 1 is located in the blocked area), so that the sensing of the blocked area cannot be realized. After deploying the RIS device, the BS can reasonably adjust the phase of the RIS device, so that the RIS device reflects and / or transmits the signal of the UE to the desired direction (e.g., the blocked area), thereby realizing sensing of the blocked area and improving the sensing coverage.

[0136] Exemplarily, the RIS device can include a mobile terminal (MT), at this time, the RIS device can also be referred to as a reconfigurable intelligent surface mobile terminal (RIS-MT). The MT can have the function of a terminal device or can be a terminal device. At this time, the RIS panel is the RIS panel corresponding to the MT. Alternatively, the RIS device can include an RIS panel, at this time, the RIS device can also be referred to as an RIS panel. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the RIS device can include an MT and an RIS panel. At this time, the phase of the RIS device actually refers to the phase of the RIS panel, and the reflection and / or transmission of the signal by the RIS device actually refers to the reflection and / or transmission of the signal by the RIS panel. The MT can also be referred to as a control unit or a RIS controller, etc. The RIS panel can also be referred to as a RIS antenna panel or a RIS module or a RIS forwarding module or a reflecting array, etc. The MT and the RIS panel perform inner interaction.

[0137] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the MT and the RIS panel can be independently deployed (i.e., the MT can be deployed outside the RIS), so that the signals transmitted and received by the MT can be reflected or transmitted by the RIS panel (e.g., control signaling from the base station is transmitted to the MT after being reflected or transmitted by the RIS panel; similarly, feedback signals from the MT are transmitted to the base station after being reflected or transmitted by the RIS panel), thereby enhancing the energy of the channel.

[0138] The MT can include a baseband module, a medium radio frequency module, and a radio frequency front end, etc. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the baseband module can include a processor, a decoder, an encoder, a demodulator, a modulator, etc.; the medium radio frequency module can include an analog to digital converter (ADC), a digital to analog converter (DAC), an upconverter, and a downconverter, etc.; the radio frequency front end can include a duplexer, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier (PA), and an antenna, etc. The above is only an example, and the MT can also include other modules, which are not limited in the present application.

[0139] It should be noted that the RIS device, the MT (or RIS-MT), and the RIS panel are all exemplary names, and in fact, one or more of the RIS device, the MT (or RIS-MT), or the RIS panel can also have other possible names in future communication scenarios, which are not limited in the present application. Specifically, in future communication scenarios, if a device contains the functions of the RIS device described above, the device can also be considered as the RIS device described in the present application; similarly, if a device contains the functions of the MT described above, the device can also be considered as the MT described in the present application; if a device contains the functions of the RIS panel described above, the device can also be considered as the RIS panel described in the present application.

[0140] For the convenience of description, the RIS device includes the MT and the RIS panel is taken as an example below, and the working principle of the RIS device is described in detail in combination with FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, when data transmission (such as uplink data and / or downlink data) is performed between the UE and the BS, the BS can first send control signaling (such as downlink control information (DCI)) to the MT through a control link. The control signaling indicates the phase of each element in the RIS panel. Therefore, the MT can adjust the phase of each element in the RIS panel according to the indication of the control signaling. So that the BS and the UE can communicate through the RIS panel. For example, the signal from the UE can be reflected and / or transmitted to the BS through the RIS panel, and correspondingly, the signal from the BS can also be reflected and / or transmitted to the UE through the RIS panel.

[0141] Specifically, the possible values of the phase of each element in the RIS panel can be predefined by a protocol; therefore, the control signaling can select the appropriate phase from the phase values predefined by the protocol and inform the MT through the control signaling; for example, the protocol can define the correspondence between the phase values and the indexes, so that the control signaling can indicate the phase of each element in the RIS panel to the MT through the index.

[0142] Specifically, the control signaling can indicate the beams of the RIS panel and the validity period of the beams, so that the MT can adjust the phase of the RIS panel, so that the RIS panel can switch the corresponding beams (that is, adjust the phase to switch the beams) at different time periods, so as to transmit the signal to the direction corresponding to the beam. As shown in FIG. 6, the control signaling can be located in time slot #0, and the control signaling indicates 4 beams, i.e. beam #0-beam #3, wherein the validity period of beam #0 is time slot #2, the validity period of beam #1 is time slot #3, the validity period of beam #2 is time slot #4, and the validity period of beam #3 is time slot #5; beam #0 is used for communication between the BS and UE #0, beam #1 is used for communication between the BS and UE #1, beam #2 is used for communication between the BS and UE #2, and beam #3 is used for communication between the BS and UE #3.

[0143] Beam #0, beam #1 and beam #3 are downlink beams, and beam #2 is an uplink beam. The beam direction of beam #0 is towards UE #0, the beam direction of beam #1 is towards UE #1, the beam direction of beam #3 is towards UE #3, and the beam direction of beam #2 is towards the BS. Therefore, when the BS schedules uplink data or downlink data through DCI on the corresponding time slot, the uplink data or downlink data can be transmitted to the receiving end (such as the BS or the UE) through the beam valid in the time slot.

[0144] 4. RIS-based positioning:

[0145] The UE can send SRS to the BS through the RIS panel, and the BS can determine the distance between the UE and the BS based on the multipath delay of channel estimation (i.e. the product of the transmission delay of the signal and the speed of light); generally, it can be considered that the distance between the RIS panel and the BS is measurable, so the distance between the UE and each RIS panel can be determined based on the distance between the UE and the BS and the distance between the RIS panel and the BS (the difference between the distance corresponding to each path between the UE and the BS and the distance between the RIS panel and the BS). Further, taking each RIS panel as the center and the distance between the RIS panel and the UE as the radius, the intersection of multiple circles is the position of the UE.

[0146] As shown in (a) of FIG. 7, taking the positioning implemented by two RIS panels (i.e. RIS panel #1 and RIS panel #2) as an example, the UE can implement the transmission of SRS through three paths, i.e. path #1 (i.e. UE→BS), path #2 (i.e. UE→RIS panel #1→BS), and path #3 (i.e. UE→RIS panel #2→BS); as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, path #1 is the shortest and path #3 is the longest, that is, the transmission delay of path #1 is the smallest and the transmission delay of path #3 is the largest.

[0147] Suppose the distance between the BS and RIS panel #1 and the distance between the BS and RIS panel #2 are known, the BS can draw a circle with the distance between the UE and the BS determined according to the SRS transmitted by path #1 (referred to as distance #1 below) as the radius and the BS as the center. The distance between the UE and the BS determined according to the SRS transmitted by path #2 (referred to as distance #2 below) and the distance between the BS and RIS panel #1 are used to determine the distance between the UE and RIS panel #1; further, a circle is drawn with RIS panel #1 as the center and the distance between the UE and RIS panel #1 as the radius. Similarly, the distance between the UE and the BS determined according to the SRS transmitted by path #3 (referred to as distance #3 below) and the distance between the BS and RIS panel #2 are used to determine the distance between the UE and RIS panel #2; further, a circle is drawn with RIS panel #2 as the center and the distance between the UE and RIS panel #2 as the radius. The intersection of the three circles is the position of the UE.

[0148] However, due to the limitation of hardware process, the actual phase of an array element in the RIS panel is different from the phase indicated by the control signaling, and the error between the actual phase and the phase indicated by the control signaling is different at different frequency points. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the phase indicated by the control signaling is 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° respectively, the actual phase of the array element at different frequency points (such as 3.2 GHz, 3.6 GHz, and 3.8 GHz) is as follows. For example, when the control signaling indicates 0°, the actual phase of the array element at 3.2 GHz is -77.27°, the actual phase of the array element at 3.6 GHz is -139.76°, and the actual phase of the array element at 3.8 GHz is -189.69°. That is, the phase shift (i.e., the phase difference between the target phase and the actual phase) of the array element is non-constant.

[0149] In addition, since the phase shift that varies linearly with frequency is equivalent to the change of multipath delay in the delay domain, the non-constant phase shift will cause the transmission delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel to increase or decrease, and further cause the positioning result in the positioning scenario or the perception result in the perception scenario to have an error, resulting in reduced accuracy.

[0150] Therefore, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Since the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel (i.e., the antenna panel) at different frequency points is different from the target phase (such as the target phase indicated by the control signaling) of the RIS panel, the phase shift of the RIS panel is non-constant, which causes the transmission delay of the signal to increase or decrease, and the result of the service (such as the positioning service or the perception service) related to the transmission delay of the signal has an error (i.e., a first error value). Therefore, the MT (i.e., the first device) that controls the RIS panel can send first information to the second device, so that the second device can determine the first error value according to the first information. Therefore, the result of the related service (such as the positioning service or the perception service) can be corrected based on the first error value, so as to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0151] The technical solutions provided in the present application can be applied to various communication systems, which can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, for example, a 4th generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, a 5G new radio (NR) system, a vehicle to everything (V2X) system, a system with mixed networking of LTE and NR, or a device-to-device (D2D) system, a machine to machine (M2M) communication system, an internet of things (IoT), and a future communication system.

[0152] Alternatively, the communication system can also be a non-3GPP communication system, for example, an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, or a communication system with fusion of the above communication systems, which is not limited in the present application.

[0153] It should be noted that the above communication system applicable to the present application is only an example, and the communication system applicable to the present application is not limited thereto. Hereinafter, the above will not be repeated.

[0154] The present application provides an exemplary communication system. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication system can include at least one first device, at least one antenna panel corresponding to the at least one first device respectively, and at least one second device. Further, the communication system can further include at least one third device.

[0155] The first device is configured to control the phase of the antenna panel corresponding thereto, or in other words, the first device is configured to control the phase of the antenna panel corresponding thereto. The signal transmission between the second device and the third device is achieved by reflection and / or transmission of the antenna panel, that is, the signal from the third device is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and correspondingly, the signal from the second device is reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel.

[0156] Exemplarily, the antenna panel can be an RIS panel, the first device can be a communication device (such as an MT, or an RIS-MT) capable of controlling the antenna panel (or controlling the phase of the antenna panel, or adjusting the antenna panel); the second device or the third device can be a terminal device, or a communication module in the terminal device, or a chip responsible for communication function in the terminal device, such as a Modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a system on chip (SoC) chip or a system in a package (SIP) chip containing a modem module. Or it can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the terminal device function. Correspondingly, the third device or the second device can be a network device, or a component (for example, a communication module, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the network device, or it can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the network device function.

[0157] Taking the second device and the third device as terminal devices and / or network devices as an example, the communication between the second device and the third device can include communication between terminal devices, communication between a terminal device and a network device, communication between network devices, etc.

[0158] Referring to FIG. 10, an architecture schematic diagram of a communication system provided by the present application is shown. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication system includes a first device (i.e., an MT) and its corresponding antenna panel (i.e., an RIS panel), a terminal device, and a network device, so that the terminal device and the network device can communicate through the antenna panel.

[0159] Optionally, the network device in the embodiment of the present application is a device for accessing a terminal device to a wireless network, and the network device can be a node in a wireless access network, also known as a base station, and also known as a radio access network (RAN) node (or device).

[0160] For example, the network device can include an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB, evolutional Node B) in an LTE system or an LTE-A system, such as a conventional macro base station eNB and a micro base station eNB in a heterogeneous network scenario. Alternatively, a transmission reception point (TRP), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB, or a home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a BBU pool, or a WiFi access point (AP), and the like can be included. Alternatively, a base station in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) can be included, that is, the network device can be deployed in a high-altitude platform or a satellite, in the NTN, the network device can act as a layer 1 (L1) relay, or can act as a base station, or can act as a distributed unit (DU), or can act as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node. Alternatively, it can also be a gateway station or a ground station. Alternatively, the network device can be a device that implements a base station function in IoT, such as V2X, D2D, or machine to machine (M2M), or can include a vehicle-mounted device or a wearable device, or can include a network device in a 5G network or a public land mobile network (PLMN) evolved after 5G, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

[0161] In some embodiments, the network device can also be provided with a communication module, circuit or chip for performing corresponding communication functions. The network device can also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions and corresponding program instructions. The network device in the present application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions.

[0162] In some possible scenarios, the network device in the embodiments of the present application can also be a module or unit capable of implementing part of the functions of a base station. For example, the network device can include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The RAN device including the CU node and the DU node splits the protocol layers of the gNB in the NR system, and the functions of part of the protocol layers are placed in the CU for centralized control, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU and controlled by the CU. Further, the CU can also be divided into a control plane (centralized unit control plane, CU-CP) and a user plane (centralized unit user plane, CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, mainly including the radio resource control (RRC) and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) corresponding to the control plane (PDCP-C). The PDCP-C is mainly responsible for the encryption and decryption of the control plane data, the integrity protection, the data transmission, and the like. The CU-UP is responsible for the user plane function, mainly including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and the PDCP corresponding to the user plane (PDCP-U). The SDAP is mainly responsible for processing the data of the core network and mapping the flow to the bearer. The PDCP-U is mainly responsible for the encryption and decryption of the data plane, the integrity protection, the header compression, the sequence number maintenance, the data transmission, and the like. The CU-CP and the CU-UP are connected through an E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB to connect with the core network through an NG interface, and to connect with the DU through an F1 interface of the control plane (namely, F1-C). The CU-UP is connected with the DU through an F1 interface of the user plane (namely, F1-U). Of course, there is also a possible implementation that the PDCP-C is also in the CU-UP.

[0163] It can be understood that the CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU can also have different names in different systems, but those skilled in the art can understand its meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an open centralized unit (O-CU), the DU can also be referred to as an open distributed unit (O-DU), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an open centralized unit-control plane (O-CU-CP) O-CU-CP, and the CU-UP can also be referred to as an open centralized unit user plane (O-CU-UP). For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP and DU are taken as examples for description in the present application. The network device can also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements part of the functions of the gNB, and the DU implements part of the functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implements the functions of the RRC layer. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implements the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the medium access control (MAC) layer and the physical (PHY) layer. In some deployments, the CU can also be divided into a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node and a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node. Among them, the CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, and the CU-UP is responsible for the user plane function.

[0164] Optionally, the base station in the embodiments of the present application can include various forms of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, home base stations, TRPs, transmission points (TPs), mobile switching centers, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations thereto.

[0165] Optionally, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be a user side device for implementing a wireless communication function, such as a terminal or a chip used in a terminal, etc. The terminal can be a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a terminal unit, a terminal station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a wireless communication device, a terminal agent or a terminal device, etc. in a 5G network or a PLMN evolved after 5G. The access terminal can be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with a wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device or a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine or telehealth services, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a wireless data card, a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, etc. Alternatively, the terminal can be a terminal with a communication function in IoT, such as a terminal in V2X (e.g. a vehicle networking device), a terminal in D2D communication, or a terminal in M2M communication, etc. The terminal can be mobile or fixed.

[0166] In some embodiments, the terminal device can also be a device or module with a corresponding communication function for accessing the above-mentioned communication system. The terminal device is usually provided with a communication module, circuit or chip for executing the corresponding communication function, and the terminal device is also configured with program instructions for executing the corresponding communication function.

[0167] Optionally, the network device and the terminal device, the network device and the network device, or the terminal device and the terminal device can communicate through the licensed spectrum, or can communicate through the unlicensed spectrum, or can communicate through the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum at the same time.

[0168] Optionally, the network device and the terminal device, the network device and the network device, or the terminal device and the terminal device can communicate through the spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), or can communicate through the spectrum above 6 GHz, or can communicate through the spectrum below 6 GHz and the spectrum above 6 GHz at the same time. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used by the wireless communication.

[0169] Based on the above description of the terminal device and the network device, optionally, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by the terminal device or the network device, or can be implemented by the components of the terminal device or the network device, etc., such as implemented by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) deployed in the terminal device or the network device, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or software (such as program code in the memory), etc., without limitation.

[0170] In specific implementation, each terminal device and network device shown in FIG. 10 can adopt the component structure shown in FIG. 10, or can include the components shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a component diagram of a communication apparatus 1000 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus 1000 can be a terminal device or a chip or system on chip in the terminal device, or can be a network device or a chip or system on chip in the network device. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication apparatus 1000 includes a processor 1001, a transceiver 1002, and a communication line 1003.

[0171] Further, the communication apparatus 1000 can further include a memory 1004. The processor 1001, the memory 1004, and the transceiver 1002 can be connected through the communication line 1003.

[0172] The processor 1001 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 1001 can also be a device having a processing function, such as a circuit, a device, or a software module, without limitation.

[0173] The transceiver 1002 is configured to communicate with another device or another communication network. The other communication network can be an Ethernet network, a radio access network (RAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), or the like. The transceiver 1002 can be a module, a circuit, a transceiver, or any device capable of implementing communication.

[0174] The communication bus 1003 is configured to connect different components in the communication device 1000, so that the different components can communicate. The communication bus 1003 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0175] The memory 1004 can be a device having a storage function, configured to store instructions and / or data. The instructions can be a computer program.

[0176] The memory 1004 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and / or instructions that are not to be changed, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and / or instructions for execution by the processor 1001, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, a magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0177] It is to be noted that the memory 1004 can be independent of the processor 1001 or integrated with the processor 1001. The memory 1004 can be configured to store instructions or program codes or some data, etc. The memory 1004 can be located within the communication apparatus 1000 or located outside the communication apparatus 1000, without limitation. The processor 1001 can be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory 1004 to implement the communication method provided by the embodiments described below.

[0178] In an example, the processor 1001 can include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 10.

[0179] As an optional implementation, the communication apparatus 1000 includes multiple processors, for example, in addition to the processor 1001 in FIG. 10, the communication apparatus 1000 can further include a processor 1007.

[0180] As an optional implementation, the communication apparatus 1000 further includes an output device 1005 and an input device 1006. For example, the input device 1006 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector, etc. For example, the input device 1006 can be a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a joystick, a touch screen device, a sensor device, etc. The output device 1005 is a display screen, a speaker, etc.

[0181] It should be noted that the communication device 1000 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device having a similar structure to that shown in FIG. 10. In addition, the constituent structures shown in FIG. 10 do not constitute a limitation on the communication device, and the communication device can include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 10, or combine certain components, or have a different arrangement of components.

[0182] In an embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0183] In addition, the actions, terms, and the like involved between the embodiments of the present application can be mutually referred to and are not limited. The message name or parameter name in the message exchanged between the devices in the embodiments of the present application is only an example, and other names can also be used in the specific implementation, which is not limited.

[0184] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking the first device as the MT, the second device as the network device, and the third device as the terminal device as an example. It can be understood that the relay device can perform part or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application can also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, each step can be executed in a different order according to the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application are executed.

[0185] Referring to FIG. 11, a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. The communication method can include the following steps S1101-S1103:

[0186] S1101, the first device determines first information. The first information is used to determine a first error value, and the first error value is a distance error caused by a different deviation between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal. The first information is any one of a first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or the first error value.

[0187] For example, the first error value is a distance error caused by a deviation between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal. It can be understood that when the signal transmission between the sending end and the receiving end is achieved by reflection and / or transmission of the antenna panel, there is a deviation between the actual phase of the signal before and after the reflection and / or transmission of the antenna panel and the phase (i.e., the target phase) adjusted by the first device controlling the antenna panel. Since the actual phases of the signals at different frequency points are different, the deviations between the actual phases and the target phases at different frequency points are different, which causes the transmission time delay of the signal to increase or decrease, and further causes an error between the transmission distance of the signal determined according to the transmission time delay and the actual transmission distance of the signal. The error is the first error value.

[0188] For example, the first device is an MT, the antenna panel is an RIS panel, and the sending end sends a signal to the receiving end. Based on the working principle of the RIS device, the sending end first sends a control signaling to the MT, which indicates the target phase of the RIS panel, so that the MT can adjust the phase of the RIS panel according to the control signaling. Then the signal is sent to the RIS panel, so that the signal can be reflected and / or transmitted to the receiving end by the RIS panel. However, due to process limitations, there is an error between the actual phase and the target phase of the RIS panel, and the error between the actual phase and the target phase at different frequency points is different. This causes the transmission time delay of the signal to increase or decrease, resulting in a transmission distance (i.e., the product of the transmission time delay and the speed of light) of the signal calculated and determined according to the transmission time delay being greater than the actual transmission distance of the signal. That is, there is an error between the calculated and determined transmission distance and the actual transmission distance, which is the distance error (i.e., the first error value) caused by the deviation between the actual phase and the target phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel.

[0189] For example, the first error value can be greater than 0, or the first error value can also be less than 0; that is, the first error value can be positive or negative. When the transmission time delay of the signal increases due to the reflection and / or transmission of the antenna panel, the first error value is positive (i.e., the first error value is greater than 0). When the transmission time delay of the signal decreases due to the reflection and / or transmission of the antenna panel, the first error value is negative (i.e., the first error value is less than 0).

[0190] For example, the first reference signal can be an uplink reference signal. The implementation of the uplink reference signal can be referred to the related description in the foregoing related technology, which will not be described here.

[0191] For example, when the first information is the first error value, the first information used by the second device to determine the first error value can also be understood as that the second device learns the first error value by receiving the first information.

[0192] Exemplarily, the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel refers to a corresponding relationship between a target phase and an actual phase of each array element in the antenna panel at different frequency points. Specifically, the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel can include the corresponding relationship between the target phase and the actual phase of each array element at different frequency points, or can also include the phase shift of each array element.

[0193] It should be understood that the target phase of the signal is a phase that the second device indicates to the first device before the second device and the third device transmit the signal, and the first device is expected to adjust the antenna panel so that the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel is the target phase. The actual phase of the signal is the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel after the first device adjusts the antenna panel according to the target phase.

[0194] Therefore, the first error value is a distance error caused by a difference between the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and the target phase of the signal, and can include: the first error value is a product of a transmission time delay deviation corresponding to a phase deviation between the actual phase of the signal at different frequency points and the target phase of the signal and the speed of light.

[0195] Wherein, the transmission time delay error refers to: in the case that the transmission path and the transmission distance of the signal are constant, the actual transmission time delay of the signal on the transmission path is the difference between the transmission time delay of the signal required according to the transmission distance (i.e. the quotient of the transmission distance and the speed of light) and the transmission time delay of the signal actually transmitted.

[0196] Exemplarily, the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel can also be referred to as the phase of the antenna panel.

[0197] Exemplarily, the first device can determine the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel according to a relationship between the target phase indicated by the control signaling in the historical data and the actual phase of the antenna panel adjusted by the first device at different frequency points respectively before the actual phase, and inform the second device of the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel (at this time, the first information is the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel). Or, after determining the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, the first device can further determine the first error value according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and inform the second device of the first error value (at this time, the first information is the first error value).

[0198] It can be understood that the phase shift linearly changing with the frequency is equivalent to the multipath time delay change in the time delay domain (i.e., a time delay error between an actual transmission time delay of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel with an actual phase and a transmission time delay of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel with a target phase), that is, the time delay error (i.e., a first time delay) generated by the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel can be obtained according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel; and the product of the time delay error (i.e., the first time delay) and the speed of light is the first error value. Thus, when the first information is the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, the second device can determine the first time delay according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and further determine the first error value according to the first time delay. When the first information is the first error value, the second device can obtain the first error value by receiving the first information. The steps of determining the first time delay according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and further determining the first error value according to the first time delay are performed by the first device.

[0199] Based on the optional scheme, when the first information is the first error value, the first device can send the first error value to the second device, so that the second device does not need to obtain the first error value by calculation, thereby reducing the operation amount of the second device and improving the efficiency of determining the first error value. When the first information is the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, the second device can obtain the time delay error generated by the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, because the phase shift of the frequency is equivalent to the multipath time delay change in the time delay domain. Thus, after the first device sends the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel to the second device, the second device can determine the time delay error (i.e., the first time delay) according to the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and further determine the first error value (i.e., the first error value is the product of the time delay error and the speed of light) to provide a possible implementation for the second device to determine the first error value.

[0200] S1102, the first device sends the first information to the second device; correspondingly, the second device receives the first information from the first device.

[0201] Taking the first information as the first reference signal as an example, as shown in FIG. 12, step S1102 can be replaced by step S1102A: the first device sends the first reference signal to the second device; correspondingly, the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device. The first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device by the antenna panel in the transmission process.

[0202] Specifically, the first device sending the first reference signal to the second device can include: the first device sending the first reference signal to the antenna panel, and the antenna panel reflecting and / or transmitting the first reference signal to the second device, that is, the transmission path of the first reference signal is: the first device→the antenna panel→the second device.

[0203] S1103, the second device determines the first error value according to the first information.

[0204] For example, when the first information is the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel or the first error value, the implementation of step S1103 can refer to the related description in step S1101 described above, and will not be described here again. When the first information is the first reference signal, the second device determining the first error value according to the first information can be understood as: the second device determining the first error value according to the first reference signal.

[0205] For example, the implementation of the second device determining the first error value according to the first reference signal can refer to the related description of the following embodiments, and will not be described here again.

[0206] Optionally, after step S1103, the communication method can further include step S1104 as shown in FIG. 12:

[0207] S1104, the second device corrects the positioning result of the third device.

[0208] For example, the implementation of the positioning result of the third device is similar to the implementation of the base station determining the positioning result of the UE in FIG. 7 (such as (a) in FIG. 7 or (b) in FIG. 7), and can refer to the related description of FIG. 7 described above, and will not be described here again.

[0209] For example, as known from the foregoing, in the process of positioning the third device, the second device can obtain the transmission delay of the signal transmitted between the second device and the third device (wherein the signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel during transmission). Taking the transmission path of the signal as an example: third device→antenna panel→second device, when the existence of the first error value is not considered, it can be considered that the product of the transmission delay of the signal and the speed of light is equal to the sum of the distance between the third device and the antenna panel and the distance between the antenna panel and the second device.

[0210] Since the transmission delay of the signal is the time difference between the sending time and the receiving time of the signal, the second device can obtain the transmission delay of the signal when the second device receives the signal, that is, the second device can calculate the product of the transmission delay of the signal and the speed of light. Further, the second device can determine the distance between the antenna panel and the second device according to the position of the antenna panel and its own position, so as to determine the distance between the third device and the antenna panel according to the above calculation relationship, so as to draw a circle with the antenna panel as the center and the distance between the third device and the antenna panel as the radius in positioning, and draw a circle with the antenna panel as the center and the distance between the third device and the antenna panel as the radius, and the intersection of the multiple circles is the position of the third device, that is, the positioning result is obtained.

[0211] However, since the signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel has a first error value, the product of the transmission time delay of the signal and the speed of light minus the distance between the antenna panel and the second device is not the distance between the third device and the antenna panel, but the sum of the distance between the third device and the antenna panel and the first error value, so that after obtaining the difference, the first error value can be subtracted to obtain the distance between the third device and the antenna panel, and then the position of the third device is recalculated, that is, the positioning result of the third device is corrected.

[0212] For example, since the first error value can be positive or negative, when the first error value is positive, it means that the difference (i.e., the product of the transmission time delay of the signal and the speed of light minus the distance between the antenna panel and the second device) is greater than the distance between the third device and the antenna panel; when the first error value is negative, it means that the difference (i.e., the product of the transmission time delay of the signal and the speed of light minus the distance between the antenna panel and the second device) is less than the distance between the third device and the antenna panel. Therefore, after the difference is subtracted by the first error value, the distance between the third device and the antenna panel can be obtained.

[0213] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Since there is a different deviation between the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the RIS panel (i.e., the antenna panel) at different frequency points and the target phase of the RIS panel (such as the target phase indicated by the control signaling), the phase shift of the RIS panel is not constant, which causes the transmission time delay of the signal to increase or decrease, and the result of the service related to the transmission time delay of the signal (such as positioning service or sensing service) has an error (i.e., the first error value). Therefore, the MT (i.e., the first device) controlling the RIS panel can send first information to the second device, so that the second device can determine the first error value according to the first information; and the result of the related service (positioning service or sensing service) can be corrected based on the first error value, so as to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0214] The above is an overall introduction to the flow of the communication method provided by the present application. The implementation of the first error value when the first information is the first reference signal is described in detail below.

[0215] Optionally, when the first information is the first reference signal, the second device determines the first error value according to the first reference signal. It can be understood that the second device determines the first error value according to the first measurement value corresponding to the first reference signal; wherein the first measurement value is the product of the transmission time delay of the first reference signal and the speed of light. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, step S1103 can be replaced by the following steps S1103A-S1103B:

[0216] S1103A, the second device determines the first distance, the second distance, and the first measurement value. The first distance is the distance between the first device and the antenna panel, and the second distance is the distance between the antenna panel and the second device.

[0217] In general, the first distance can be negligible, that is, the first distance is 0. Alternatively, when the first distance cannot be ignored, the first distance can be informed by the first device to the second device.

[0218] Specifically, the first device can inform the second device of the first distance through the first indication information, that is, the first device can send the first indication information to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the first indication information from the first device. The first indication information indicates the first distance.

[0219] For example, the first indication information can include the first distance to directly indicate the first distance, or the first indication information can include a parameter corresponding to the first distance to indirectly indicate the first distance, which is not limited in the present application. For example, the first device and the second device can agree on a set of values of different distances in advance; thus, the first indication information can indicate a position in the set of values, and the position indicates the first distance (for example, the first indication information can indicate 3, indicating that the second distance is the third value in the set of values), or the first indication information can indicate an index corresponding to different values, and the index indicates the first distance (for example, the first indication information can indicate index #2, indicating that the second distance is the value corresponding to index #2 in the set of values).

[0220] For example, the set of values of different distances can be predefined by a protocol, or the first device can inform the second device in advance, or the second device can inform the first device in advance. For example, the set of values of different distances can be informed in advance through high layer signaling (such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling, medium access control (MAC), etc.), which is not limited in the present application.

[0221] For example, the first indication information can also indicate the type of the first device, capability information, and other parameters. That is, the first distance can be reported together with the type of the first device, capability information, and other parameters.

[0222] For example, the transmission delay of the first reference signal is the difference between the sending time and the receiving time of the first reference signal.

[0223] S1103B, the second device determines the first error value according to the first distance, the second distance, and the first measurement value.

[0224] For example, based on the foregoing, the transmission path of the first reference signal is: the first device → the antenna panel → the second device. Since the signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel will cause an error (i.e., the first error value), the first measurement value actually refers to the sum of the distance between the first device and the antenna panel, the distance between the antenna panel and the second device, and the first error value. That is, the first measurement value, the first distance, the second distance, and the first error value can satisfy the following relationship (1):

[0225] The first error value = the first measurement value - the second distance - the first distance

[0226] = (the transmission delay of the first reference signal * the speed of light) - the second distance - the first distance Relationship (1)

[0227] For example, since the second distance is the distance between the antenna panel and the second device, the second distance can be implemented based on the following two cases based on whether the second device knows the position of the antenna panel.

[0228] Case one, the position of the antenna panel is known, i.e., the second device knows the position of the antenna panel.

[0229] For example, in this case, the position of the antenna panel is measurable, i.e., the position of the antenna panel is known to the second device; therefore, the second device can determine the second distance according to the position of the antenna panel and its own position; at this time, there is only one unknown in the above relationship (1): the first error value; therefore, the second device can determine the first error value in combination with the above relationship (1).

[0230] Based on case one, it can be understood that the distance between the antenna panel and the first device (the first distance) can be ignored or can be measured (i.e., the second device can know the first distance); therefore, in the case where the second device calculates the second distance (i.e., the distance between the second device and the antenna panel) based on its own position and the position of the antenna panel, the second device and the first device only need to determine the first error value through the first information (such as the first reference signal), and therefore, the second device can correct the result of the service (such as positioning service or sensing service) related to the transmission delay of the signal through the first error value to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0231] Case two, the position of the antenna panel is unknown, i.e., the second device does not know the position of the antenna panel.

[0232] Optionally, in case two, the second device can offset the unknown quantity: the second distance, in the above relationship (1), by the measurement value corresponding to a reference signal different from the transmission path of the first reference signal (e.g., the second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and the third measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal (or the fourth measurement value corresponding to the fourth reference signal)), so that the second device can determine the first error value. That is, the second device first needs to determine the second distance, and then determine the first error value according to the second distance and the first measurement value. For example, in order to avoid the influence of irrelevant parameters on the accuracy of the first error value, the reference signals (i.e., the first reference signal, the second reference signal, and the third reference signal) in the present application are reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel during transmission.

[0233] In addition, in order to offset the unknown quantity: the second distance, in the above relationship (1), there needs to be a sending end or receiving end of a reference signal (e.g., the third reference signal or the fourth reference signal) for the second device, so that the transmission path of the reference signal can include the path between the second device and the antenna panel (i.e., the transmission path corresponding to the second distance), and thus the product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal and the speed of light (i.e., the measurement value corresponding to the reference signal) actually refers to the sum of the second distance, the first error value, and the distance between the receiving end or sending end of the reference signal (e.g., the third device) and the antenna panel (for the convenience of description, the distance between the third device and the antenna panel is referred to as the third distance below, which is uniformly described here).

[0234] For example, the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the third device; and the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the second device. That is, the measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal and the measurement value corresponding to the fourth reference signal are both the sum of the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value.

[0235] However, a new unknown quantity: the third distance, appears in the measurement value. Therefore, there needs to be a sending end or receiving end of a reference signal (e.g., the second reference signal) for the third device, so that the transmission path of the reference signal can include the path between the third device and the antenna panel (i.e., the transmission path corresponding to the third distance); in addition, based on the foregoing, the first distance is measurable, so the receiving end or sending end of the reference signal can be considered to be the first device; and thus the product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal and the speed of light (i.e., the measurement value corresponding to the reference signal) actually refers to the sum of the third distance, the first error value, and the first distance.

[0236] For the convenience of description, the measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal is referred to as a second measurement value, the measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal is referred to as a third measurement value, and the measurement value corresponding to the fourth reference signal is referred to as a fourth measurement value. The unified description is not repeated here. Therefore, the second device can determine the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, or the second device can determine the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value. Further, the first error value is determined according to the second distance, the first distance, and the first measurement value.

[0237] Based on the foregoing, the second measurement value and each parameter can satisfy the following relationship (2), the third measurement value and each parameter can satisfy the following relationship (3), and the fourth measurement value and each parameter can satisfy the following relationship (4):

[0238] Second measurement value = first distance + third distance + first error value = transmission time delay of second reference signal * light speed Relationship (2)

[0239] Third measurement value = second distance + third distance + first error value = transmission time delay of third reference signal * light speed Relationship (3)

[0240] Fourth measurement value = second distance + third distance + first error value = transmission time delay of fourth reference signal * light speed Relationship (4)

[0241] As an example, when the second device determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, the second device can know from the above relationships (2) to (3) that the second distance and each parameter satisfy the following relationship (5):

[0242] Second distance = (third measurement value - second measurement value) - first distance

[0243] = (transmission time delay of third reference signal - transmission time delay of second reference signal) * light speed - first distance Relationship (5)

[0244] Substituting the above relationship (5) into the relationship (1), the relationship (6) can be obtained:

[0245] First error value = (first measurement value + second measurement value) - third measurement value - 2 * first distance Relationship (6)

[0246] Based on the foregoing, at this time, the parameters on the right side of the relationship (6) are known, and thus the first error value can be determined.

[0247] According to the foregoing relationship (5), the second distance is determined according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, and therefore, before determining the first error value, the second device needs to determine the second measurement value and the third measurement value, and further, according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, the second distance is determined, and then according to the second distance, the first distance, and the first measurement value, the first error value is determined. That is, in step S1103A, the second device determines the second distance, including: the second device determines the second measurement value and the third measurement value, and determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value.

[0248] For example, as shown in FIG. 13, in step S1103A, the second device determines the second distance, which can be replaced by the following steps S1103A-1 to S1103A-3:

[0249] S1103A-1, the second device determines the second measurement value.

[0250] S1103A-2, the second device determines the third measurement value.

[0251] S1103A-3, the second device determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value.

[0252] For example, the implementation of step S1103A-3 can refer to the related description of the above relationship (5), which will not be repeated here.

[0253] The second measurement value will be described in detail below.

[0254] For example, the second measurement value is determined according to the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and as described above, the second measurement value in the relationship (2) is the sum of the first distance, the third distance, and the first error value; that is, the second reference signal passes through three devices in the transmission process: the first device, the antenna panel, and the third device; taking the first device sending the second reference signal as an example, the first device can send the second reference signal to the antenna panel, and the antenna panel reflects and / or transmits the second reference signal to the third device, that is, the transmission path of the second reference signal is: the first device→the antenna panel→the third device.

[0255] For example, the second reference signal can be a downlink reference signal, and the implementation of the downlink reference signal can refer to the related description in the foregoing related technology, which will not be repeated here.

[0256] As a possible implementation manner, the second device determines the second measurement value, including: the second device receives the second measurement value from the third device. That is, the second measurement value is determined by the third device and informed to the second device.

[0257] Optionally, in this example, after the first device sends the second reference signal to the third device, the third device can determine the second measurement value according to the transmission delay of the second reference signal and inform the third device of the second measurement value. For example, as shown in (a) of FIG. 14, step S1103A-1 can be replaced by steps S1103A-1-1 and S1103A-1-2:

[0258] S1103A-1-1, the first device sends the second reference signal to the third device, and the third device receives the second reference signal from the first device.

[0259] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the order between step S1103A-1-1 and step S1102A. Step S1103A-1-1 can be performed before step S1102A, or step S1103A-1-1 can be performed after step S1102A, or step S1103A-1-1 and step S1102A can be performed at the same time, which is not limited by the present application.

[0260] S1103A-1-2, the third device sends the second measurement value to the second device, and the second device receives the second measurement value from the third device. The second measurement value is the product of the transmission delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light.

[0261] For example, the transmission delay of the second reference signal is the difference between the sending time and the receiving time of the second reference signal.

[0262] For example, the second measurement value can be carried in the first indication information, that is, the third device can send the second measurement value to the second device through the first indication information; that is, step S1103A-1-2 can be replaced by: the third device sends the first indication information to the second device, and the second device receives the first indication information from the third device. The first indication information indicates the second measurement value.

[0263] Specifically, the first indication information can include the second measurement value to directly indicate the second measurement value, or can include a parameter related to the second measurement value to indirectly indicate the second measurement value. For example, the parameter can be an index corresponding to the second measurement value, and the present application is not limited in this regard.

[0264] Based on this example, the third device can determine to send the second measurement value to the second device, so that the second device can directly determine the first error value according to the second measurement value after receiving the second measurement value, thereby improving the efficiency of the second device in determining the first error value and saving the computational complexity of the second device.

[0265] As another possible implementation, the second device determines the second measurement value, comprising: the second device receives the second reference signal from the third device, and determines the second measurement value according to the transmission delay of the second reference signal. That is, the second measurement value is determined by the second device.

[0266] For example, after the first device sends the second reference signal to the third device, the third device can inform the third device of the transmission delay of the second reference signal, so that the third device can determine the second measurement value according to the transmission delay of the second reference signal.

[0267] For example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 14, after step S1103A-1-1, the communication method can further include steps S1103A-1-3-S1103A-1-4, that is, step S1103A can be replaced by steps S1103A-1-1, S1103A-1-3-S1103A-1-4:

[0268] S1103A-1-3, the third device sends the transmission delay of the second reference signal to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the transmission delay of the second reference signal from the third device.

[0269] For example, the transmission delay of the second reference signal can be carried in the second indication information, that is, the third device can send the transmission delay of the second reference signal to the second device through the second indication information; that is, step S1103A-1-3 can be replaced by: the third device sends the second indication information to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the second indication information from the third device. The second indication information indicates the transmission delay of the second reference signal.

[0270] Specifically, the second indication information can include the transmission delay of the second reference signal to directly indicate the transmission delay of the second reference signal, or can include a parameter related to the transmission delay of the second reference signal to indirectly indicate the transmission delay of the second reference signal. For example, the parameter can be an index corresponding to the transmission delay of the second reference signal, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0271] S1103A-1-4, the second device determines the second measurement value according to the transmission delay of the second reference signal.

[0272] For example, the implementation of the second device determining the second measurement value is similar to the implementation of the third device determining the second measurement value in the above embodiment, and specific reference can be made to the related description of the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0273] Based on the example, the third device can send the transmission delay of the second reference signal to the second device, so that the second device determines the second measurement value according to the transmission delay of the second reference signal, and further determines the first error value according to the second measurement value, which provides a possible implementation manner for the scheme of the present application.

[0274] The above is the description of the "second measurement value", and the "third measurement value" will be described in detail below.

[0275] For example, the third measurement value is determined according to the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and the third measurement value is the sum of the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value in the above relationship (3); and the third reference signal is sent by the second device to the third device. That is, the third reference signal passes through three devices in the process of transmission: the second device, the antenna panel, and the third device; the second device can send the third reference signal to the antenna panel, and the antenna panel reflects and / or transmits the third reference signal to the third device, that is, the transmission path of the third reference signal is: the second device→the antenna panel→the third device.

[0276] For example, the third measurement value can include the following two possible implementation manners:

[0277] In one possible implementation manner, the third measurement value is determined by the third device and informed to the second device.

[0278] Optionally, in this possible implementation manner, the second device can send the third reference signal to the third device, and the third device, after receiving the third reference signal, can determine the third measurement value according to the transmission delay of the third reference signal and inform the second device of the third measurement value.

[0279] For example, as shown in (a) of FIG. 15, the communication method can further include steps S1103A-2-1-S1103A-2-3, that is, step S1103A-2 can be replaced by steps S1103A-2-1-S1103A-2-3:

[0280] S1103A-2-1, the second device sends the third phase to the first device, and correspondingly, the first device receives the third phase from the second device. Wherein, the third phase is determined according to the first phase and the second phase, the first phase is the phase when the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel; and the second phase is the phase when the second reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0281] Exemplarily, the third phase is a phase of the third reference signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, which can be understood as that the third reference signal passes through the antenna panel in the process of transmission, and the phase difference of the third reference signal before and after the reflection and / or transmission via the antenna panel is the third phase; that is, the phase of the antenna panel is the third phase when the third reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0282] Exemplarily, the first device can adjust the phase of the antenna panel according to the third phase, and after adjusting the phase, the antenna panel can wait to reflect and / or transmit the third reference signal.

[0283] Optionally, the third phase can be carried in the third indication information, that is, step S1103A-2-1 can be replaced by: the second device sends third indication information to the first device, and correspondingly, the first device receives the third indication information from the second device. The third indication information indicates the third phase.

[0284] Exemplarily, the third indication information can include the third phase to directly indicate the third phase, or can include a parameter related to the third phase to indirectly indicate the third phase. For example, the third phase is one of the phase values of the antenna panel predefined by the protocol, and at this time, the third indication information can include an index corresponding to the third phase.

[0285] Optionally, in combination with the transmission path of the first reference signal, the transmission path of the second reference signal, and the transmission path of the third reference signal, it can be known that the third phase shift is related to the first phase and the second phase.

[0286] Exemplarily, the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, which can be understood as that the first phase is a phase difference before and after the reflection and / or transmission of the first reference signal via the antenna panel, or that the phase of the antenna panel is the first phase when the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel; similarly, the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, which can be understood as that the second phase is a phase difference before and after the reflection and / or transmission of the second reference signal via the antenna panel, or that the phase of the antenna panel is the second phase when the second reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0287] Specifically, the third phase can be a sum of the first phase and the second phase. Alternatively, the third phase is determined according to the sum of the first phase and the second phase. Therefore, the second device can take the sum of the first phase and the second phase as the third phase; or, after determining the sum of the first phase and the second phase, the second device can compare the sum with the phase values of the antenna panel predefined by the protocol, and select the phase closest to the sum (e.g., the smallest difference) from the phase values of the antenna panel as the third phase.

[0288] For example, based on the foregoing related art, the protocol predefines the phase values of the antenna panel; therefore, in the step S1102A, the first device can adjust the phase of the antenna panel according to the predefined phase, and send the first reference signal at different phases of the antenna panel, so that when the second device receives the first reference signal, the phase of the antenna panel can be considered as the first phase. Similarly, in the step S1103A-1-1, the first device can also adjust the phase of the antenna panel according to the predefined phase, and send the second reference signal at different phases of the antenna panel, so that when the third device receives the second reference signal, the phase of the antenna panel can be considered as the second phase.

[0289] Alternatively, the first phase can be carried in the information used to carry the first reference signal. Alternatively, the phase of the first reference signal can be informed to the second device by the first device based on the first feedback information, wherein the first feedback information indicates that the second device successfully receives the first reference signal. So that the second device knows the phase of the first reference signal.

[0290] Similarly, the second phase can be carried in the information carrying the second reference signal. Alternatively, the second phase can be informed to the second device or the third device by the first device based on the second feedback information, wherein the second feedback information indicates that the third device successfully receives the second reference signal. When the first device informs the third device of the second phase based on the second feedback information, the third device can inform the second device of the second phase, so that the second device knows the first phase. For example, the second phase can be reported together with the transmission delay of the second reference signal or the second measurement value, such as the second phase and the transmission delay of the second reference signal being carried in the same signaling, or the second phase and the second measurement value being carried in the same signaling. Alternatively, the second phase can be reported separately from the transmission delay of the second reference signal or the second measurement value.

[0291] S1103A-2-2, the second device sends the third reference signal to the third device, and correspondingly, the third device receives the third reference signal from the second device.

[0292] Exemplarily, since the transmission path of the third reference signal is: the second device → the antenna panel → the third device, in step S1103A-2-2, the second device can send the third reference signal to the antenna panel, so that the antenna panel can reflect and / or transmit the third reference signal to the third device; so that the third device can receive the third reference signal.

[0293] Exemplarily, the third reference signal can be an uplink reference signal. For implementation of the downlink reference signal, refer to the related description in the foregoing related technology, which is not described here again.

[0294] In step S1103A-2-3, the third device sends the third measurement value to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the third measurement value from the third device. The third measurement value is the product of the transmission delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0295] Exemplarily, the transmission delay of the third reference signal is the difference between the sending time and the receiving time of the third reference signal.

[0296] Exemplarily, the third measurement value can be carried in the fourth indication information, that is, the third device can send the third measurement value to the second device through the fourth indication information; that is, step S1103A-2-3 can be replaced by: the third device sends the fourth indication information to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the fourth indication information from the third device. The fourth indication information indicates the third measurement value.

[0297] Specifically, the fourth indication information can include the third measurement value to directly indicate the third measurement value; or can include a parameter related to the third measurement value to indirectly indicate the third measurement value. For example, the parameter can be an index having a corresponding relationship with the third measurement value, and the application is not limited in this regard.

[0298] Based on this possible implementation, the third device can determine to send the third measurement value to the second device, so that after receiving the third measurement value, the second device can directly determine the second distance according to the third measurement value, and further determine the first error value according to the second distance, thereby improving the efficiency of the second device in determining the first error value and saving the computational amount of the second device.

[0299] In addition, the third reference signal is sent by the second device to the third device, and generally, the energy intensity of the downlink signal is greater than that of the uplink signal, so that in the case that the second device is a network device and the third device is a terminal device, the third information is downlink information, and therefore, compared with the uplink information, the accuracy of the measurement value corresponding to the signal (i.e., the third measurement value) can be improved, and the accuracy of the first error value can be further improved.

[0300] In another possible implementation, the third measurement value is determined by the second device.

[0301] Optionally, in this possible implementation, the second device can send the third reference signal to the third device, and the third device, after receiving the third reference signal, can inform the second device of the transmission delay of the third reference signal, so that the second device can determine the third measurement value according to the transmission delay of the third reference signal.

[0302] For example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 15, after step S1103A-2-2, the communication method can further include steps S1103A-2-4-S1103A-2-5, that is, step S1103A-2 can be replaced by steps S1103A-2-1-S1103A-2-2, S1103A-2-4-S1103A-2-5:

[0303] S1103A-2-4, the third device sends the transmission delay of the third reference signal to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the transmission delay of the third reference signal from the third device.

[0304] S1103A-2-5, the second device determines the third measurement value according to the transmission delay of the third reference signal. The third measurement value is the product of the transmission delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0305] Based on this possible implementation, the third device can send the transmission delay of the third reference signal to the second device, so that the second device determines the third measurement value according to the transmission delay of the third reference signal, and further determines the second distance according to the third measurement value, so as to determine the first error value according to the second distance, thereby providing a possible implementation for the scheme of the present application.

[0306] In addition, the third reference signal is sent by the second device to the third device, and generally, the energy intensity of the downlink signal is greater than that of the uplink signal. Therefore, in the case where the second device is a network device and the third device is a terminal device, the third information is downlink information, and thus compared with the uplink information, the accuracy of the measurement value (i.e., the third measurement value) corresponding to the signal can be improved, and the accuracy of the first error value can be further improved.

[0307] As another example, when the second device determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, it can be known from the above relationship (2) and relationship (4) that the second distance satisfies the following relationship (7) with each parameter:

[0308] Second distance = (fourth measurement value-second measurement value)-first distance

[0309] = (transmission delay of the fourth reference signal - transmission delay of the second reference signal) * light speed - first distance

[0310] Substituting the above relationship (7) into the relationship (1), the relationship (8) can be obtained:

[0311] First error value = (first measurement value + second measurement value) - fourth measurement value - 2 * first distance

[0312] Based on the foregoing, at this time, the parameters on the right side of the "=" in the relationship (8) are known, so that the first error value can be determined.

[0313] Since the second distance is determined according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, the second device needs to determine the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value before determining the first error value, and further, determine the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, and then determine the first error value according to the second distance, the first distance, and the first measurement value. That is, in step S1103A: the second device determines the second distance, including: the second device determines the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, and determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value.

[0314] For example, as shown in FIG. 16, in step S1103A: the second device determines the second distance, it can be replaced by the following steps S1103A-4~S1103A-6:

[0315] S1103A-4, the second device determines the second measurement value.

[0316] Among them, the implementation of step S1103A-4 is the same as that of the above-mentioned step S1103A-1, so the implementation of the second measurement value in S1103A-4 can refer to the related description of the above-mentioned embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0317] S1103A-5, the second device determines the fourth measurement value.

[0318] S1103A-6, the second device determines the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value.

[0319] For example, the implementation of step S1103A-6 can refer to the related description of the above-mentioned relationship (7), which will not be repeated here.

[0320] The "fourth measurement value" will be described in detail below.

[0321] For example, the fourth measurement value is determined according to the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value, and the fourth measurement value is the sum of the second distance, the third distance, and the first error value in the above relationship (4); and the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device to the second device. That is, the fourth reference signal passes through three devices in the process of transmission: the third device, the antenna panel, and the second device; when the third device sends the fourth reference signal, the third device can send the fourth reference signal to the antenna panel, and the antenna panel reflects and / or transmits the fourth reference signal to the second device, that is, the transmission path of the fourth reference signal is: the third device→the antenna panel→the second device.

[0322] Optionally, the third device can send the third reference signal to the second device, and the second device can determine the fourth measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal after receiving the third reference signal.

[0323] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the communication method can further include steps S1103A-5-1 to S1103A-5-3, that is, step S1103A-5 can be replaced by steps S1103A-5-1 to S1103A-5-3:

[0324] S1103A-5-1, the second device sends the third phase to the first device, and correspondingly, the first device receives the third phase from the second device.

[0325] It should be understood that according to the reciprocity of electromagnetic waves, the phase of the uplink signal (such as the third reference signal sent by the second device to the third device) is consistent with the phase of the downlink signal (such as the fourth reference signal sent by the third device to the second device) when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel. Therefore, the phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel is also the first phase.

[0326] For example, the implementation of the first phase can refer to the related description in the above step S1103A-2-1, which will not be repeated here.

[0327] S1103A-5-2, the third device sends the fourth reference signal to the second device, and correspondingly, the second device receives the fourth reference signal from the third device.

[0328] For example, since the transmission path of the fourth reference signal is: the third device→the antenna panel→the second device, in step S1103A-5-2, the third device can send the fourth reference signal to the antenna panel, so that the antenna panel can reflect and / or transmit the fourth reference signal to the second device; so that the second device can receive the fourth reference signal.

[0329] For example, the implementation of the fourth reference signal is similar to the implementation of the third reference signal in the above embodiment, and details can be referred to the related description of the above embodiment, which will not be described here.

[0330] S1103A-5-3, the second device determines a fourth measurement value according to the transmission delay of the fourth reference signal. The fourth measurement value is the product of the transmission delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

[0331] Based on the scheme, the fourth reference signal is sent by the second device to the third device, so that after the second device receives the fourth reference signal, the second device can determine the fourth measurement value according to the transmission delay of the fourth reference signal, further determine the second distance according to the fourth measurement value, and then determine the first error value according to the second distance. In the scheme, the second device and the third device only need to interact once to determine the first error value, thereby reducing the resource consumption of the air interface.

[0332] Based on case two, when the first information is the first reference signal, the second device can determine the first measurement value (i.e., the product of the transmission delay of the first reference signal and the speed of light) through the transmission delay of the first reference signal after receiving the first reference signal. In addition, the distance (the first distance) between the antenna panel and the first device can be ignored or measured (i.e., the second device can obtain the first distance). Furthermore, the second device can determine the second distance (i.e., the second distance = (the third measurement value (or the fourth measurement value) - the second measurement value) + the first distance) according to the third measurement value (or the fourth measurement value) and the second measurement value, and then the second device can determine the first error value (i.e., the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance) according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance, so that the result of the service (positioning service or sensing service, etc.) related to the transmission delay of the signal can be corrected through the first error value to improve the accuracy of the related service.

[0333] In addition, the second device does not need to know the position of the antenna panel, but only needs to know the distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and then determine the second distance through the parameters in the measurement values corresponding to the signals of the multiple transmission paths, so as to determine the first error value. Therefore, the use range of the method is wider.

[0334] In the above embodiments, the first device is deployed independently from the antenna panel (e.g., the RIS-MT is deployed independently from the RIS panel), such as the first device is deployed at a location outside the antenna panel. In practice, the first device can also be deployed together with the antenna panel, such as the first device is located on the antenna panel. In this case, the signal transmitted between the first device and the second device, and / or the signal transmitted between the first device and the third device, does not need to be reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel. That is, after the first device transmits a signal to the second device, the signal can be directly received by the second device, i.e., the transmission path of the signal is: the first device → the second device. Similarly, after the first device transmits a signal to the third device, the signal can also be directly received by the third device, i.e., the transmission path of the signal is: the first device → the third device.

[0335] Based on the foregoing, the first measurement value refers to the product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal (i.e., the first reference signal) transmitted between the first device and the second device and the speed of light. Therefore, in the case where the first device is deployed together with the antenna panel, the transmission path of the first reference signal in FIGS. 14-17 changes to: the first device → the second device. In this case, the first measurement value actually refers to the distance between the first device and the second device, i.e., the distance between the antenna panel and the second device, i.e., the first reference signal does not need to be reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the second device during transmission. That is, the first measurement value and the second distance satisfy the following relationship (9):

[0336] First measurement value = second distance = transmission time delay of first reference signal * speed of light Relationship (9)

[0337] The second distance is the distance between the first device and the second device, or the distance between the antenna panel and the second device.

[0338] Similarly, the second measurement value refers to the product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal (i.e., the second reference signal) transmitted between the first device and the third device and the speed of light. Therefore, in the case where the first device is deployed together with the antenna panel, the transmission path of the second reference signal in FIG. 14 (e.g., (a) in FIG. 14 and / or (b) in FIG. 14) changes to: the first device → the third device. In this case, the second measurement value actually refers to the distance between the first device and the third device, i.e., the distance between the antenna panel and the third device, i.e., the second reference signal does not need to be reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the third device during transmission. That is, the second measurement value and the third distance satisfy the following relationship (10):

[0339] Second measurement value = third distance = transmission time delay of second reference signal * speed of light Relationship (10)

[0340] The third distance is a distance between the first device and the third device, or a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0341] Therefore, in the above relationship (3), relationship (9), relationship (10), only the first error value exists in relationship (3), at this time, relationship (9)~relationship (10) is substituted into relationship (3) to obtain relationship (11), that is, the above relationship (6) can be replaced by the following relationship (11):

[0342] The first error value = the third measurement value - the first measurement value - the second measurement value relationship (11)

[0343] That is, the second device can determine the first error value based on the first measurement value, the second measurement value, and the third measurement value. At this time, the second device can determine the first error value by determining the first measurement value, determining the second measurement value, and determining the third measurement value, and further determining the first error value based on the above relationship (11). Specifically, the second device determines the first measurement value, determines the second measurement value, and determines the third measurement value, which is similar to the implementation of determining the first measurement value, determining the second measurement value, and determining the third measurement value in the above FIG. 12~FIG. 15. For details, please refer to the related description in the above FIG. 12~FIG. 15, which will not be repeated here.

[0344] Alternatively, the second device determines the first error value based on the first measurement value, the second measurement value, and the fourth measurement value. At this time, in the above relationship (4), relationship (9), relationship (10), only the first error value exists in relationship (4), at this time, relationship (9)~relationship (10) is substituted into relationship (4) to obtain relationship (12), that is, the above relationship (8) can be replaced by the following relationship (12):

[0345] The first error value = the fourth measurement value - the first measurement value - the second measurement value relationship (12)

[0346] At this time, the second device can determine the first error value by determining the first measurement value, determining the second measurement value, and determining the fourth measurement value, and further determining the first error value based on the above relationship (12). Specifically, the second device determines the first measurement value, determines the second measurement value, and determines the fourth measurement value, which is similar to the implementation of determining the first measurement value, determining the second measurement value, and determining the fourth measurement value in the above FIG. 12~FIG. 17. For details, please refer to the related description in the above FIG. 12~FIG. 17, which will not be repeated here.

[0347] It should be noted that each of the embodiments of the present application can be implemented independently, or in combination, without limitation. If not specifically stated and there is no logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions provided in different embodiments of the present application are consistent and can be mutually referred to. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0348] The above describes the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application mainly from the perspective of interaction between devices. It can be understood that each device includes a hardware structure and / or a software module corresponding to the execution of each function in order to achieve the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0349] It can be understood that the communication apparatus includes a hardware structure and / or a software module corresponding to the execution of each function in order to achieve the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0350] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional modules of each device according to the above method examples. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one processing module. The above integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or software functional module. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical functional division. Actual implementation can have another division manner.

[0351] FIG. 18 shows a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 1800. The communication apparatus 1800 includes a processing module 1801 and a transceiver module 1802. The communication apparatus can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned first device or second device or third device.

[0352] In some embodiments, the communication apparatus 1800 can further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 18) for storing program instructions and data.

[0353] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802, which can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement transmit and / or receive functions. The transceiver module 1802 can be constituted by a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0354] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 can include a receiving module and a transmitting module for performing the receiving and transmitting steps of the above method embodiments performed by the above first device or second device or third device, and / or for supporting other processes of the techniques described herein; and the processing module 1801 can be configured to perform the processing steps (e.g., determining, etc.) of the above method embodiments performed by the above first device or second device or third device, and / or for supporting other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0355] When the communication apparatus 1800 is configured to implement the functions of the above first device and / or second device:

[0356] In some embodiments, the processing module 1801 is configured to determine, by the first device, first information, wherein the first information is used to determine a first error value, the first error value is a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal, and the first information is any one of the first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or the first error value. The transceiver module 1802 is configured to transmit, by the first device, the first information to the second device.

[0357] Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to transmit the first distance.

[0358] Optionally, the first information indicates the first error value.

[0359] Optionally, the first information indicates the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, and the phase shift characteristic is used to determine the first error value.

[0360] Optionally, the target phase of the signal is a phase indicated by the second device to the first device before the signal is transmitted between the second device and the third device, and the first device is expected to adjust the antenna panel so that a phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel is the target phase.

[0361] Optionally, the actual phase of the signal is a phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the adjusted antenna panel after the first device adjusts the antenna panel according to the target phase. In one possible design, the phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel can also be referred to as the phase of the antenna panel.

[0362] Optionally, the first error value is a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel of the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal, and the distance error comprises: the first error value is a product of a transmission time delay deviation corresponding to the difference between the actual phase of the signal at the different frequency points and the target phase of the signal and the speed of light.

[0363] Optionally, the transmission time delay error refers to: in the case that a transmission path of the signal and a transmission distance are constant, a transmission time delay required by the signal according to the transmission distance (i.e., a quotient of the transmission distance and the speed of light) is different from an actual transmission time delay of the signal transmitted on the transmission path, and the actual transmission time delay of the signal is a difference between a receiving time and a sending time of the signal.

[0364] Optionally, the second distance is determined by the second device according to a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to the third reference signal; wherein: the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, and the third distance is a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0365] Optionally, the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

[0366] Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to send, by the second device, a third reference signal to the third device; the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to receive, by the second device, a third measurement value or a transmission time delay of the third reference signal from the third device; and the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to determine, by the second device, the third measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the third reference signal, and the third measurement value is a product of the transmission time delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0367] Optionally, a phase of the third reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, and the third phase is determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0368] Optionally, the second distance is determined by the second device according to a second measurement corresponding to the second reference signal and a fourth measurement corresponding to the fourth reference signal, wherein the second reference signal is transmitted by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement = the first distance + a third distance + a first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; the fourth reference signal is transmitted by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, the fourth measurement = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0369] Optionally, the second distance = (the fourth measurement - the second measurement) + the first distance.

[0370] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to receive, by the second device, the fourth reference signal from the third device; and the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine, by the second device, the fourth measurement according to a transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement being a product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

[0371] Optionally, a phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0372] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to receive, by the second device, the second phase from the third device; the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine, by the second device, the third phase according to the second phase and the first phase; and further, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to transmit, by the second device, the third phase to the first device.

[0373] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to transmit, by the first device, the second reference signal to the third device, the second reference signal being reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel in a transmission process; and the second device receives the second measurement or a transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; when the second device receives the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine, by the second device, the second measurement according to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, the second measurement = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0374] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to transmit, by the first device, the first distance to the second device.

[0375] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to correct, by the second device, a positioning result of the third device according to the first error value.

[0376] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine, by the second device, a first time delay according to the phase shift characteristic, the first time delay being a time delay error caused by the signal reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; and determine a first error value according to the first time delay, the first error value being a product of the first time delay and the speed of light.

[0377] When the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the functions of the above-described second device, the processing module 1801 is configured to:

[0378] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1802 is configured to receive first information from the first device, the first information being any one of the first reference signal, the phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or the first error value; and the processing module 1801 is configured to determine the first error value according to the first information, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel of the first device and a target phase of the signal at different frequency points.

[0379] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to correct the positioning result of the third device according to the first error value.

[0380] Optionally, when the first information is the first reference signal, the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel during transmission; and the processing module 1801 is configured to determine the first error value according to the first information, including: determining a first distance, a second distance, and a first measurement value, the first distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, the second distance being a distance between the second device and the antenna panel, and the first measurement value being a product of a transmission time delay of the first reference signal and the speed of light; and determining the first error value according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance, the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance.

[0381] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine a second measurement value corresponding to a second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal; and determine the second distance according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance; wherein the second reference signal is transmitted by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; and the third reference signal is transmitted by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0382] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to send a third reference signal to the third device; receive a third measurement value or a transmission time delay of the third reference signal from the third device; when the transmission time delay of the third reference signal is received from the third device, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine the third measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the third reference signal, the third measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

[0383] Optionally, a phase of the third reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0384] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine a second measurement value corresponding to the second reference signal and a fourth measurement value corresponding to the fourth reference signal; and determine the second distance according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, the second distance being (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance; wherein: the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value being the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; and the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, the fourth measurement value being the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

[0385] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to receive the fourth reference signal from the third device; and the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine the fourth measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement value being the second distance + the third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0386] Optionally, a phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is the third phase. The third phase is determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

[0387] Optionally, the processing module 1801 is further configured to determine the first phase and the second phase; determine the third phase according to the first phase and the second phase; and send the third phase to the first device.

[0388] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to receive the second measurement value or a transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; when receiving the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to determine the second measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, the second measurement value = the first distance + the third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0389] When the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the functions of the third device described above, the transceiver 1802 is configured to:

[0390] In some embodiments, the transceiver 1802 is configured to receive a second reference signal from the first device, the second reference signal being reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel controlled by the first device during transmission; the transceiver 1802 is further configured to send the transmission time delay of the second reference signal or a second measurement value to the second device, the second measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light; wherein the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine the first error value, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal, the first error value = the second measurement value - the first distance - the third distance, the first distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

[0391] Optionally, the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine the first error value, including: the second measurement value and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value, wherein the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel.

[0392] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to receive a third reference signal from the second device; the third device sends the transmission time delay of the third reference signal or a third measurement value to the second device, the third measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the reference signal and the speed of light.

[0393] Optionally, the second measurement value and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value; wherein the fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value, the second distance being a distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

[0394] Optionally, the transceiver 1802 is further configured to send the third reference signal from the third device to the second device.

[0395] Optionally, a third reference signal or a fourth reference signal has a third phase when being reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: the third reference signal is transmitted by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the third device; the fourth reference signal is transmitted by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel to the second device; the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel; and the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when being reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel.

[0396] Optionally, the transceiver module 1802 is further configured to transmit the second phase to the second device.

[0397] All the related contents of the steps involved in the above method embodiments can be referred to the function description of the corresponding function modules, and will not be repeated here.

[0398] In the present application, the communication device (i.e., the first device or the second device or the third device) 1800 is presented in the form of dividing various function modules in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to a specific application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and a memory executing one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0399] In some embodiments, in a hardware implementation, those skilled in the art can conceive that the communication device 1800 can take the form of the communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 10.

[0400] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing module 1801 in FIG. 18 can be realized by invoking the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1004 by the processor 1001 in the communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 10. The function / implementation process of the transceiver module 1802 in FIG. 18 can be realized by the communication interface 1003 in the communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 10.

[0401] In some embodiments, when the communication device 1800 in FIG. 18 is a chip or a chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 1802 can be realized by the input / output interface (or the communication interface) of the chip or the chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 1801 can be realized by the processor (or the processing circuit) of the chip or the chip system.

[0402] Since the communication device 1800 provided by the present embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects it can obtain can be referred to the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0403] As another possible product form, the first device or the second device or the third device described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of illustration, refer to FIG. 19, which is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 1900 provided by the embodiments of the present application, the communication device 1900 including a processor 1901 and a transceiver 1902. The communication device 1900 can be the first device, a chip or a chip system therein; or the communication device 1900 can be the second device, a chip or a module therein; or the communication device 1900 can be the third device, a chip or a module therein. FIG. 19 only shows the main components of the communication device 1900. In addition to the processor 1901 and the transceiver 1902, the communication device can further include a memory 1903.

[0404] Optionally, the processor 1901 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the entire communication device, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The memory 1903 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The transceiver 1902 can include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna, the radio frequency circuit being mainly used for conversion between a baseband signal and a radio frequency signal and processing the radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves.

[0405] Optionally, the processor 1901, the transceiver 1902, and the memory 1903 can be connected through a communication bus.

[0406] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1901 can read the software programs in the memory 1903, interpret and execute instructions of the software programs, and process data of the software programs. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1901 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit, which converts the baseband signal into a radio frequency signal and transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives a radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1901, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0407] In some embodiments, the transceiver 1902 can include a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to implement the transmission operations in the above method embodiments; and the receiver is configured to implement the receiving operations in the above method embodiments.

[0408] For example, when the communication apparatus is a chip, the chip can not include the memory 1903, i.e., the communication apparatus includes the processor 1901 and the transceiver 1902. At this time, the transceiver 1902 is the input / output interface of the chip, wherein the transmitter in the transceiver corresponds to the output interface of the chip, and the receiver in the transceiver corresponds to the input interface of the chip.

[0409] In some embodiments, the application also provides a communication apparatus, which includes a processor configured to implement the method in any of the method embodiments.

[0410] As a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer programs can include instructions, and the processor can invoke the instructions in the computer programs stored in the memory to instruct the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the method embodiments. Of course, the memory can also not be in the communication apparatus.

[0411] As another possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, and is configured to receive computer execution instructions (the computer execution instructions are stored in the memory, and can be directly read from the memory or can pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0412] As yet another possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface, which is configured to communicate with modules outside the communication apparatus.

[0413] It can be understood that the communication apparatus can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication apparatus is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices, and the embodiments of the application do not make specific limitations in this regard.

[0414] The application also provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores computer programs or instructions, and the computer programs or instructions are executed by a computer to realize the functions of any of the method embodiments.

[0415] The application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer programs or instructions, and the computer program product is executed by a computer to realize the functions of any of the method embodiments.

[0416] Those skilled in the art can understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, apparatuses and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described herein.

[0417] It can be understood that the system, apparatus and method described in the present application can also be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiment described above is merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There can be another division manner for the actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or in other forms.

[0418] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, i.e., can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. The components shown as units can or can not be physical units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment.

[0419] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0420] In the above embodiments, all or part can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by a software program, all or part can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through a wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or include one or more data storage devices such as servers, data centers, etc. integrated with the medium. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state drive (SSD)), etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the computer can include the apparatus described above.

[0421] Although the application has been described in connection with various embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the application. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps not mentioned in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The use of the expression "at least one" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The use of the expression "one of' preceding the elements in a list of elements does not exclude the presence of at least one other such element. The use of the expression "at least one", when used to describe a list of elements, does not exclude the presence of only one such element. The use of the expression "at least one" followed by a list of elements does not exclude the presence of other such elements not listed. The use of the expression "one", "the" or "said" with reference to an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The use of the expression "at least one", when used in a contextual sentence, does not exclude the presence of additional and different elements of that which is already present in said context.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: The first device determines first information, the first information being used by the second device to determine a first error value, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between actual phases of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by an antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and target phases of the signal, the first information being any one of a first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or the first error value; The first device sends the first information to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, When the first information is the first reference signal, the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel during transmission; wherein: The first error value = first measurement value - first distance - second distance, the first measurement value being a product of a transmission delay of the first reference signal and a speed of light, the first distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and the second distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the second device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The second distance is determined by the second device according to a second measurement value corresponding to a second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal; wherein: The second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to a third device via the antenna panel, and the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; The third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The second device sends the third reference signal to the third device; The second device receives a transmission delay of the third reference signal or the third measurement value from the third device; When the second device receives the transmission delay of the third reference signal from the third device, the method further comprises: The second device determines the third measurement value according to the transmission delay of the third reference signal, the third measurement value being a product of the transmission delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, A phase of the third reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: The first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; The second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein, The second distance is determined by the second device according to a second measurement value corresponding to a second reference signal and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal; wherein, The second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to a third device via the antenna panel, the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; The fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The second distance = (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The second device receives the fourth reference signal from the third device; The second device determines the fourth measurement value according to a transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7-9, characterized in that, A phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: The first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; The second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

11. The method according to claim 6 or 10, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The second device receives the second phase from the third device; The second device determines the third phase according to the second phase and the first phase; The second device sends a third reference signal to the third device, or, before the second device receives the fourth reference signal from the third device, the method further comprises: The second device sends the third phase to the first device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 3-11, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The first device sends the second reference signal to a third device; The second device receives the second measurement value or a transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; When the second device receives the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device, the method further comprises: The second device determines the second measurement value according to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, the second measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light.

13. The method according to any one of claims 2-12, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The first device sends the first distance to the second device.

14. A communication method, comprising: The method is applied to a second device, and the method comprises: Receiving first information from a first device, the first information being any one of a first reference signal, a phase shift characteristic of the antenna panel, or a first error value; Determining a first error value according to the first information, the first error value being a distance error caused by a difference between an actual phase of a signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel controlled by the first device at different frequency points and a target phase of the signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The method further comprises: Correcting a positioning result of a third device according to the first error value.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that when the first information is the first reference signal, the first reference signal is reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel during transmission; the first error value is determined according to the first information, comprising: determining a first distance, a second distance, and a first measurement value, the first distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the first device, the second distance being a distance between the second device and the antenna panel, and the first measurement value being a product of a transmission time delay of the first reference signal and a speed of light; the first error value is determined according to the first measurement value, the first distance, and the second distance, the first error value = the first measurement value - the first distance - the second distance.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, the second distance is determined, comprising: determining a second measurement value corresponding to a second reference signal and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal; the second distance is determined according to the second measurement value and the third measurement value, the second distance = (the third measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance; wherein: the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to a third device via the antenna panel, and the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, the third measurement value is determined, comprising: sending the third reference signal to the third device; receiving a transmission time delay of the third reference signal or the third measurement value from the third device; when the transmission time delay of the third reference signal from the third device is received, the third measurement value is determined, further comprising: the third measurement value is determined according to the transmission time delay of the third reference signal, the third measurement value being a product of the transmission time delay of the third reference signal and the speed of light.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, a phase of the third reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: the first phase is a phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; the second phase is a phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein, the second distance is determined, comprising: determining a second measurement value corresponding to a second reference signal and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal; the second distance is determined according to the second measurement value and the fourth measurement value, the second distance = (the fourth measurement value - the second measurement value) + the first distance; wherein: the second reference signal is sent by the first device and reflected and / or transmitted to a third device via the antenna panel, and the second measurement value = the first distance + a third distance + the first error value, the third distance being a distance between the antenna panel and the third device; the third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value. The fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and the fourth measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The fourth measurement value is determined by: Receiving the fourth reference signal from the third device; According to the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal, the fourth measurement value is determined, which is the product of the transmission time delay of the fourth reference signal and the speed of light.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The phase of the fourth reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel is a third phase, which is determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: The first phase is the phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; The second phase is the phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

23. The method of claim 19 or 22, wherein, Before sending the third reference signal to the third device or receiving the fourth reference signal from the third device, the method further comprises: Determining the first phase and the second phase; According to the first phase and the second phase, the third phase is determined; Sending the third phase to the first device.

24. The method according to any one of claims 16-23, characterized by, The second measurement value is determined by: Receiving the second measurement value or the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device; When receiving the transmission time delay of the second reference signal from the third device, the second measurement value is determined by: According to the transmission time delay of the second reference signal, the second measurement value is determined, which is the product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light.

25. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a third device, and the method comprises: The third device receives a second reference signal from a first device, which is reflected and / or transmitted via an antenna panel controlled by the first device during transmission; The third device sends the transmission time delay of the second reference signal or a second measurement value to a second device, the second measurement value being the product of the transmission time delay of the second reference signal and the speed of light; Wherein, the second measurement value is used by the second device to determine a first error value, the first error value being a distance error caused by the difference between the actual phase of the signal reflected and / or transmitted by the antenna panel at different frequencies and the target phase of the signal, the first error value = the second measurement value - first distance - third distance, the first distance being the distance between the antenna panel and the first device, and the third distance being the distance between the antenna panel and the third device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, The second measurement value is used by the second device to determine a first error value, comprising: the second measurement value and a third measurement value corresponding to a third reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value; wherein, The third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel, and the third measurement value = the second distance + the third distance + the first error value, the second distance being the distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, The method further comprises: The third device receives the third reference signal from the second device; The third device sends the transmission delay of the third reference signal or the third measurement value to the second device, the third measurement value being the product of the transmission delay of the reference signal and the speed of light.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein, The second measurement value is used by the second device to determine a first error value, comprising: the second measurement value and a fourth measurement value corresponding to a fourth reference signal are used by the second device to determine the first error value; wherein, The fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and the fourth measurement value = second distance + third distance + first error value, the second distance being the distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein, The method further comprises: The fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel, and the fourth measurement value = second distance + third distance + first error value, the second distance being the distance between the second device and the antenna panel.

30. The method of any one of claims 26-29, wherein, The third reference signal or the fourth reference signal has a third phase when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel, the third phase being determined by a first phase and a second phase, wherein: The third reference signal is sent by the second device and reflected and / or transmitted to the third device via the antenna panel; The fourth reference signal is sent by the third device and reflected and / or transmitted to the second device via the antenna panel; The first phase is the phase of the first reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel; The second phase is the phase of the second reference signal when reflected and / or transmitted via the antenna panel.

31. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises a transceiver module and a processing module, The transceiver module is configured to perform the receiving or transmitting in the method of any one of claims 1-13, or perform the receiving or transmitting in the method of any one of claims 14-24, or perform the receiving or transmitting in the method of any one of claims 25-30; The processing module is configured to perform the processing in the method of any one of claims 1-13, or perform the processing in the method of any one of claims 14-24, or perform the processing in the method of any one of claims 25-30.

32. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises a processor, and the processor is configured to run a computer program or instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-13, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 14-24, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 25-30.

33. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs, which, when run on a computer, cause the method of any one of claims 1-13 to be performed, cause the method of any one of claims 14-24 to be performed, or cause the method of any one of claims 25-30 to be performed.

34. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product comprises computer instructions; when part or all of the computer instructions are run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-13 is executed, the method according to any one of claims 14-24 is executed, the method according to any one of claims 25-30 is executed.

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